2009, the last single digit year of the twenty-first century, is an eventful year for the world, and myself. In the year, America’s first black President swore into office; Dow came back to 10000 points; Michael Jackson died; and I was laid off.
Looking back, I feel fortunate that Mike and I escaped the deadliest metro accident, which took place on the line we commute to work every day and killed nine; I feel lucky that I survived the mass layoff and landed another job soon enough not to contribute to the 10% national unemployment rate; I feel grateful that Mike has been so supportive providing me with both physical and emotional security in this most insecure time.
One thing that completely changed my life is the layoff that happened exactly at the middle of the year, which split 2009 into a merry-go-around first half and a roller-coaster second half. I often remember our April trip to China as something that happened last year because it did seem like a really long time ago when we actually could have plans. Now my three-shift-rotating job not only makes an undisturbed eight hour sleep a dream too good to be true, but also makes a dinner or movie plan for next week almost impossible either because A) I don’t know which shift I will be working; or B) I don’t know which day I will be off; or C) I don’t know if I will have enough sleep on a particular day.
The person I thank most for helping me going through the rough transition is my dearest Mike, who tolerates my frequent (i.e. five days a week) explosion of crankiness from sleeping and eating disorder, who drives me to metro every night rain or snow, who wisely warned me of not have an expectation too high on any promising job openings, for making me still believe things will get better.
In 2009, Mike and I also celebrated our first anniversary, although it feels like we’ve been married for years, not only because now we can let out unpleasant gas in front of each other without feeling any shame, but also because we both consider each other as our best friend with whom we can share any thoughts without expecting the other would always agree with ourselves, but would always be the best listener.
Now, it’s time to look forward. Just the look of the number 2010 seems so futuristic and it sounds even more—Twenty-Ten, instead of two thousand and something. It actually IS futuristic in that the way we gather information, look at the world and communicate with people would be unimaginable 20 years ago. I used to write my New Year’s resolution on a piece of paper and stick it on the wall behind my desk. Now I’m writing it on my computer and post it on my blog and my friends living thousands of miles away can read it simultaneously.
In addition to convenience, technology also brings us laziness. Partly blaming my chaotic work schedule, I’ve lost contact with most friends. So my 2010 resolution: Party On! I’m going to have more B-B-Qs, hot pots, dinners, dumplings, card games, pool games, movie nights…Let's bring the fun back to life!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
经济衰退下美国大学毕业生写照
今天Washington Post的文章，看了令人心寒。BTW, excellent writing.
In recession, one road led back home
After hitting dead end after dead end in job search, new graduate rethinks her path
By Eli SaslowWashington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Her parents redecorated her bedroom soon after she left for college, as sure as everyone else in this town that Melissa Meyer would not be moving back. They took down the photos of Melissa meeting the Dalai Lama and laughing alongside Joe Biden, placing them in the closet. They packed away dozens of high school honor certificates -- valedictorian, class president, outstanding chemistry student -- and stored them in plastic boxes under the bed.
Melissa had always been too big for this town, her father liked to say. She was editor of the school newspaper, an intern in the U.S. Senate and the only student from Sentinel High School's Class of 2005 to attend college on the East Coast. On her rare visits home from George Washington University, longtime friends liked to tease her: "Hey, Melissa, are you president yet?"
So, how to explain this? Each morning, Melissa wakes up in her old bedroom, scans the foreign decor and thinks: This is the guest room now. I am the guest. I am not supposed to be here.
She graduated magna cum laude from the GW Business School in May, applied for 30 jobs at some of the nation's best-known companies, and it went nowhere. After visiting the campus career center and redesigning her résumé, she applied for 10 more jobs. Still nothing. The lease on her Foggy Bottom apartment expired in June. There was no place to go but home, with a collection of rejection letters and a haunting sense of betrayal. For 23 years, she had advanced down America's path to success -- perfect grades, a $200,000 college degree, a folder overstuffed with business cards -- only to have it dead-end back where she started.
"What was the point?" she asks.
For Melissa, that question is the legacy of the recession as she rises one Tuesday morning in early fall and begins her day with the same routine that defined her adolescence. She rummages through the refrigerator, eats leftovers from a dinner party her parents threw the night before and then retreats upstairs to prepare for a fill-in shift at the same job she held throughout high school. After changing into cowboy boots and a skirt, she borrows her parents' car and drives three minutes to work at Rockin Rudy's, a record store with a peace sign hanging at the entrance.
The shop smells of incense. Classic rock plays through speakers. Customers come and go in tie-dyed T-shirts as Melissa stands behind a register and rings up CDs, bandanas and a gigantic bronze frog.
Midway through her shift, a man approaches the counter ready to buy three necklaces. He introduces himself as a palm reader. Melissa sticks out her hand.
"I know nothing about my future," she says.
* * *
Once, she thought she knew exactly what to expect. She would follow the same direct path to achievement as her father, a partner in his own accounting firm; as her mother, a public health nurse; as her sister, a Truman scholar pursuing a doctorate; as her brother, a pioneering accountant in Australia. For the Meyer family, success had always been defined as a straight line: education, career, hard work and a salary big enough to provide the next generation with a head start toward the same goals.
With that tradition in mind, Melissa applied for a handful of positions during the first semester of her senior year at GW and earned interviews with Procter & Gamble, Deloitte and General Electric. After a few hopeful weeks, she received similar e-mails from all three companies explaining that they were no longer hiring.
Melissa's father, Jack, suggested she could improve her odds by networking, so she chatted up customers while working as a hostess at Kinkead's restaurant in Washington and joined the GW alumni association, introducing herself to strangers during meet-and-greet happy hours. A school counselor told Melissa that she could sharpen her applications by taking a career aptitude test, which revealed that she could market herself as "energetic," "enthusiastic," "flexible," "assertive" and "a good communicator."
Over two months, as spring turned to summer and the jobless rate continued to climb, Melissa applied for at least one position every day, sending applications to Philadelphia, Washington, Seattle and Portland, Ore. She spoke with hiring managers at a company in Seattle that once had tried to lure employees with an in-house gym and wine bar, but now the wine bar was closed, and the company asked Melissa to check back in six months.
As graduation neared, Melissa spent her culminating business class comparing rejection e-mails with classmates. Forty students were in the room. Three had jobs.
Melissa redesigned her résumé one final time before she moved home to Missoula. She had all but given up on launching a career now, instead aspiring to any job that would prevent her from being completely dependent on her parents. Her professional résumé seemed too striving to submit to shops more accustomed to hiring high school kids, hippies and transients. Melissa deleted mention of the $36,000 she raised for alternative spring break trips and the 50-person events she coordinated for a women's leadership program, replacing them with new categories.
Restaurant Host: "Greeted patrons, scheduled reservations and arranged seating for a restaurant with 64 tables."
Reception Assistant: "Aided reception staff by answering phones, preparing billing statements and scanning documents."
Sales Associate: "Organized, cleaned and displayed inventory to create a stimulating shopping environment."
This is the résumé Melissa carries with her one September morning as she enters an orientation meeting for prospective Missoula substitute teachers. She has never taught before, nor does she particularly enjoy children, but she has been turned down by a restaurant, a bakery and an herbal shop in the past two weeks.
More than 75 others are crowded into a room when Melissa arrives. There are women in business suits and men in ties, all carrying three letters of recommendation and hoping for a chance to earn $10.29 an hour without benefits by substituting in a school district that has only three high schools. A middle-aged man stands at the front of the room and explains the order in which Missoula substitutes will be selected. He asks those who qualify under each category to raise their hands.
"Who here is an assistant teacher?"
Six hands shoot up.
"Okay. Who has a teaching degree?"
Fifteen more people raise their hands.
"Great. And who has a college major that is taught at the high school level, like English or science?"
Practically the whole room is reaching toward the sky now, but Melissa, who majored in marketing and business administration, continues to scribble on the cover of a seminar handout. Not until 15 minutes later, near the conclusion of the seminar, does the instructor explain how "less qualified" teachers like Melissa can win substitute assignments. She should print out business cards and hand them to her old teachers at Sentinel High School, he suggests. Maybe the staff will help out a former valedictorian by requesting her as a substitute.
"My triumphant return!" Melissa whispers sarcastically.
Soon she is out the door and back in her parents' car. She drives across town for a job interview at a restaurant called the Depot, where the new résumé -- and particularly her experience at Kinkead's -- helps her earn a part-time job as a hostess. She will work three nights a week, from 5 until close. The Depot manager offers his congratulations and reminds her to "smile big and wear sensible shoes."
It is the first good news Melissa has received after six months and 60 applications, but she can hardly feign excitement.
"Sometimes, thinking about what I'm doing right now, it becomes a little depressing," she says later, while driving home.
She turns a corner and her parents' house comes into view. She has plans to have lunch with her dad, maybe go for a hike. Then, nothing.
"I know I am underselling myself," she says. "But maybe there's more to life than what position you have and all those things."
* * *
A few days later, Melissa sits in the living room with her parents, Jack and Shelly. She is dressed for yoga class. Her parents are dressed for work. Shelly puts a hand on her daughter's knee and asks the question that now rules over so many of these moments, even if it often goes unsaid: "So, have you thought any more about what's next?"
It has been more than four years since Melissa has lived with them, and Jack and Shelly now revel in the company of a daughter who lingers with them at the dinner table and offers to help with the dishes. She visits Jack for lunch at his office, goes to exercise classes with Shelly and teaches her parents how to play a game on their porch that involves swinging at rotten fruit with a cricket bat, until they are all competing in a make-believe home-run derby and laughing like 10-year-olds. The highlight of their autumn has been having Melissa home.
Melissa loves being with them, too. Spending so much time with family in Montana has helped her "thaw out from the go-go-go of D.C.," she says. Her dad had a health scare not long ago, and now Melissa watches football with him and asks his advice on relationships and work-life balance. Her parents treat her like an adult, allowing her to come and go as she pleases and to sleep at boyfriend Will Freihofer's house. But Melissa prefers to bring Freihofer home so they can spend evenings watching movies with Shelly and Jack.
And yet there remains this one topic that divides them.
"I'm still figuring out my plans," Melissa says. "I don't know yet."
"When will you know?" Shelly asks.
"I don't know," Melissa says.
"How long will it go on like this?" Shelly asks. "It can't go on forever."
They taught their children that a respectable life begins with hard work. Jack's father, a shoe salesman, died when Jack was 14, so Jack went to work at the shoe warehouse to help his family compensate for lost income. Shelly's father, an airline technician, moved six times in 10 years, following his job. Both Jack and Shelly were among the first in their families to attend college. They graduated from the University of Colorado and have worked ever since.
With each paycheck, they stockpiled money into education funds for their three children, promising each fully paid tuition for a state university or a heavy contribution toward the bill at a private school. Melissa's education cost the most -- about $100,000, even after scholarships and financial aid -- and Jack and Shelly paid every cent. An investment, they called it. The return was implied: good grades, a successful career and income to create college funds for children of her own. The straight line.
Maybe, Melissa thinks now. But maybe there is something else, a more wandering path to fulfillment. She is falling in love with Freihofer and indulging whims like searching for Montana's best beef jerky, writing letters by hand and hiking each morning. When Freihofer, who works part time as a rafting guide, asks what she will do next, she mentions not career possibilities but possible adventures she has researched online. "Why waste my time continuing to apply for jobs that don't want me?" she says. Instead, she imagines a future far away. A yoga ashram in Nepal? Trekking through Argentina? Picking grapes at a vineyard in New Zealand? A road trip across Australia?
All she knows for certain is that she wants to save $4,000 for airfare and depart in early 2010, for somewhere. "I don't want to look back after 30 years in a cubicle and think, 'I should have.' "
It is an outlook some in her family struggle to comprehend. When Melissa mentions the yoga ashram, her sister responds with an e-mail demanding a more practical plan, "by the end of business hours today." Her brother visits from Australia and, during a fight over access to the shower, calls Melissa worthless for living at home. Shelly comes upstairs to referee. "You two figure this out," she says, "because I really don't want either of you here." It is an untruth spoken during a moment of irritation, but Melissa bursts into tears and rolls the words around in her head for days. Has she become a burden to her parents? It is the one thought that makes her want to find a cubicle, fast.
"We just want you to be happy," Shelly says now, in the living room.
"I know," Melissa says. "Me, too."
"It will work out," Shelly says.
"I hope so," Melissa says.
They are silent for a moment, looking at each other, and then the conversation begins again.
"What do you think you will do?" Shelly asks.
"I don't know," Melissa says.
* * *
She has invented a dozen ways to say those words -- "I don't know." When former teachers or her parents' friends ask about her plans, Melissa's answer is professional: "I'm looking at my options." When she sees inquiring high school friends, her answer is more casual: "Oh, I'm still figuring things out."
"I used to tell people about the jobs I was applying for, and at least that sounded better," she says. "But now I'm not applying for anything, and I don't really know what to tell them. 'Oh, I'm just hanging out.' Or, 'Oh, I couldn't find a job, so I'm living at home.' You end up getting all these awkward responses and weird looks."
The other possibility would be a complete, honest answer: that, actually, she's doesn't feel in a hurry to find a job anymore. That she is now wondering why she ever felt hurried. That maybe this whole thing is a blessing. That maybe the roundabout path offers more than the straight line.
But that answer, she thinks, would sound strangest of all in this place she once left with such determination, so she reserves it only for Freihofer, who mostly listens and nods and one day agrees that they should leave town and go for a long drive just because they can. They pull away from the guest room, out of Missoula and into the mountains. The air is crisp, and Melissa rolls down her window. Every mile brings a new ambition. They pass a mountain. "I want to climb that," she says. They see a wolf refuge. "I want to visit there."
She drives and eats homemade puppy chow while Freihofer strums a miniature ukulele in the passenger seat. Their destination is Glacier National Park, to the north, but they zigzag across the state to buy beef jerky, pose next to a tacky plastic dinosaur and drink whiskey at a stop in Great Falls, Mont., where a woman dressed as a mermaid swims in a pool behind the bar. All told, it is a detour of 24 hours and 200 miles.
As they continue to drive, Melissa and Freihofer make a game of counting how many of their friends have secured jobs. Freihofer, who plans to spend the winter exploring Antarctica, knows three who have moved abroad to travel, two who work as adventure guides and two who have become teaching assistants. "Jobs, but not really career-type jobs," he says. Melissa knows of friends who are "hanging out" at their homes in California and New York, and of a former roommate who is interning at GW. Another friend was hired by a publishing house in New York but has been laid off.
"The economy is almost convenient in a sick way, because everybody is off on adventures," Freihofer says. "It's an excuse to do whatever you want."
"Yeah," Melissa says. "I don't think my parents would understand if I was turning down jobs and doing this."
"I figure if I don't have a real job in two or three years, my parents will get on me," Freihofer says. "My dad doesn't want me to get too comfortable floating around and selling myself short."
"I probably have a year," Melissa says, "but I can stretch it."
"Vague, short-term goals -- that's all anybody has right now," Freihofer says.
"We can figure out the long-term stuff later," Melissa says.
They pass through an Indian reservation, continue over the peaks of Glacier, exit onto a dirt road and travel toward the Canadian border. Finally, just before dusk, they arrive at a tiny outpost called Polebridge and throw their sleeping bags onto a sagging mattress at the North Fork Hostel. The town, population 50, lacks electricity, so they use propane lamps and candles to play cards late into the night.
They walk outside at 10 p.m. to look at a sky littered with stars and scan the surrounding mountains for mountain lions, moose or bears. "I think I see something," Melissa says, before deciding it's only a bush.
The sun wakes them up early the next morning, and they decide to go hiking. Melissa knows of a trail that ends at a fire tower, so she leads. She follows a dirt path around one switchback, then another, and another, until she has ascended a mountain and reached the base of the tower. She climbs a ladder to the top, stands on a platform and surveys the vista. There is nothing to hear but the wind. There is no one to see for miles and miles. There are no office buildings, no expectations.
All she sees are deep blue lakes, snow-capped mountains and clouds floating above dense forest. The view seems endless. So do the possibilities.
She turns to Freihofer: "I wonder what our friends are doing right now in their cubicles."
In recession, one road led back home
After hitting dead end after dead end in job search, new graduate rethinks her path
By Eli SaslowWashington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Her parents redecorated her bedroom soon after she left for college, as sure as everyone else in this town that Melissa Meyer would not be moving back. They took down the photos of Melissa meeting the Dalai Lama and laughing alongside Joe Biden, placing them in the closet. They packed away dozens of high school honor certificates -- valedictorian, class president, outstanding chemistry student -- and stored them in plastic boxes under the bed.
Melissa had always been too big for this town, her father liked to say. She was editor of the school newspaper, an intern in the U.S. Senate and the only student from Sentinel High School's Class of 2005 to attend college on the East Coast. On her rare visits home from George Washington University, longtime friends liked to tease her: "Hey, Melissa, are you president yet?"
So, how to explain this? Each morning, Melissa wakes up in her old bedroom, scans the foreign decor and thinks: This is the guest room now. I am the guest. I am not supposed to be here.
She graduated magna cum laude from the GW Business School in May, applied for 30 jobs at some of the nation's best-known companies, and it went nowhere. After visiting the campus career center and redesigning her résumé, she applied for 10 more jobs. Still nothing. The lease on her Foggy Bottom apartment expired in June. There was no place to go but home, with a collection of rejection letters and a haunting sense of betrayal. For 23 years, she had advanced down America's path to success -- perfect grades, a $200,000 college degree, a folder overstuffed with business cards -- only to have it dead-end back where she started.
"What was the point?" she asks.
For Melissa, that question is the legacy of the recession as she rises one Tuesday morning in early fall and begins her day with the same routine that defined her adolescence. She rummages through the refrigerator, eats leftovers from a dinner party her parents threw the night before and then retreats upstairs to prepare for a fill-in shift at the same job she held throughout high school. After changing into cowboy boots and a skirt, she borrows her parents' car and drives three minutes to work at Rockin Rudy's, a record store with a peace sign hanging at the entrance.
The shop smells of incense. Classic rock plays through speakers. Customers come and go in tie-dyed T-shirts as Melissa stands behind a register and rings up CDs, bandanas and a gigantic bronze frog.
Midway through her shift, a man approaches the counter ready to buy three necklaces. He introduces himself as a palm reader. Melissa sticks out her hand.
"I know nothing about my future," she says.
* * *
Once, she thought she knew exactly what to expect. She would follow the same direct path to achievement as her father, a partner in his own accounting firm; as her mother, a public health nurse; as her sister, a Truman scholar pursuing a doctorate; as her brother, a pioneering accountant in Australia. For the Meyer family, success had always been defined as a straight line: education, career, hard work and a salary big enough to provide the next generation with a head start toward the same goals.
With that tradition in mind, Melissa applied for a handful of positions during the first semester of her senior year at GW and earned interviews with Procter & Gamble, Deloitte and General Electric. After a few hopeful weeks, she received similar e-mails from all three companies explaining that they were no longer hiring.
Melissa's father, Jack, suggested she could improve her odds by networking, so she chatted up customers while working as a hostess at Kinkead's restaurant in Washington and joined the GW alumni association, introducing herself to strangers during meet-and-greet happy hours. A school counselor told Melissa that she could sharpen her applications by taking a career aptitude test, which revealed that she could market herself as "energetic," "enthusiastic," "flexible," "assertive" and "a good communicator."
Over two months, as spring turned to summer and the jobless rate continued to climb, Melissa applied for at least one position every day, sending applications to Philadelphia, Washington, Seattle and Portland, Ore. She spoke with hiring managers at a company in Seattle that once had tried to lure employees with an in-house gym and wine bar, but now the wine bar was closed, and the company asked Melissa to check back in six months.
As graduation neared, Melissa spent her culminating business class comparing rejection e-mails with classmates. Forty students were in the room. Three had jobs.
Melissa redesigned her résumé one final time before she moved home to Missoula. She had all but given up on launching a career now, instead aspiring to any job that would prevent her from being completely dependent on her parents. Her professional résumé seemed too striving to submit to shops more accustomed to hiring high school kids, hippies and transients. Melissa deleted mention of the $36,000 she raised for alternative spring break trips and the 50-person events she coordinated for a women's leadership program, replacing them with new categories.
Restaurant Host: "Greeted patrons, scheduled reservations and arranged seating for a restaurant with 64 tables."
Reception Assistant: "Aided reception staff by answering phones, preparing billing statements and scanning documents."
Sales Associate: "Organized, cleaned and displayed inventory to create a stimulating shopping environment."
This is the résumé Melissa carries with her one September morning as she enters an orientation meeting for prospective Missoula substitute teachers. She has never taught before, nor does she particularly enjoy children, but she has been turned down by a restaurant, a bakery and an herbal shop in the past two weeks.
More than 75 others are crowded into a room when Melissa arrives. There are women in business suits and men in ties, all carrying three letters of recommendation and hoping for a chance to earn $10.29 an hour without benefits by substituting in a school district that has only three high schools. A middle-aged man stands at the front of the room and explains the order in which Missoula substitutes will be selected. He asks those who qualify under each category to raise their hands.
"Who here is an assistant teacher?"
Six hands shoot up.
"Okay. Who has a teaching degree?"
Fifteen more people raise their hands.
"Great. And who has a college major that is taught at the high school level, like English or science?"
Practically the whole room is reaching toward the sky now, but Melissa, who majored in marketing and business administration, continues to scribble on the cover of a seminar handout. Not until 15 minutes later, near the conclusion of the seminar, does the instructor explain how "less qualified" teachers like Melissa can win substitute assignments. She should print out business cards and hand them to her old teachers at Sentinel High School, he suggests. Maybe the staff will help out a former valedictorian by requesting her as a substitute.
"My triumphant return!" Melissa whispers sarcastically.
Soon she is out the door and back in her parents' car. She drives across town for a job interview at a restaurant called the Depot, where the new résumé -- and particularly her experience at Kinkead's -- helps her earn a part-time job as a hostess. She will work three nights a week, from 5 until close. The Depot manager offers his congratulations and reminds her to "smile big and wear sensible shoes."
It is the first good news Melissa has received after six months and 60 applications, but she can hardly feign excitement.
"Sometimes, thinking about what I'm doing right now, it becomes a little depressing," she says later, while driving home.
She turns a corner and her parents' house comes into view. She has plans to have lunch with her dad, maybe go for a hike. Then, nothing.
"I know I am underselling myself," she says. "But maybe there's more to life than what position you have and all those things."
* * *
A few days later, Melissa sits in the living room with her parents, Jack and Shelly. She is dressed for yoga class. Her parents are dressed for work. Shelly puts a hand on her daughter's knee and asks the question that now rules over so many of these moments, even if it often goes unsaid: "So, have you thought any more about what's next?"
It has been more than four years since Melissa has lived with them, and Jack and Shelly now revel in the company of a daughter who lingers with them at the dinner table and offers to help with the dishes. She visits Jack for lunch at his office, goes to exercise classes with Shelly and teaches her parents how to play a game on their porch that involves swinging at rotten fruit with a cricket bat, until they are all competing in a make-believe home-run derby and laughing like 10-year-olds. The highlight of their autumn has been having Melissa home.
Melissa loves being with them, too. Spending so much time with family in Montana has helped her "thaw out from the go-go-go of D.C.," she says. Her dad had a health scare not long ago, and now Melissa watches football with him and asks his advice on relationships and work-life balance. Her parents treat her like an adult, allowing her to come and go as she pleases and to sleep at boyfriend Will Freihofer's house. But Melissa prefers to bring Freihofer home so they can spend evenings watching movies with Shelly and Jack.
And yet there remains this one topic that divides them.
"I'm still figuring out my plans," Melissa says. "I don't know yet."
"When will you know?" Shelly asks.
"I don't know," Melissa says.
"How long will it go on like this?" Shelly asks. "It can't go on forever."
They taught their children that a respectable life begins with hard work. Jack's father, a shoe salesman, died when Jack was 14, so Jack went to work at the shoe warehouse to help his family compensate for lost income. Shelly's father, an airline technician, moved six times in 10 years, following his job. Both Jack and Shelly were among the first in their families to attend college. They graduated from the University of Colorado and have worked ever since.
With each paycheck, they stockpiled money into education funds for their three children, promising each fully paid tuition for a state university or a heavy contribution toward the bill at a private school. Melissa's education cost the most -- about $100,000, even after scholarships and financial aid -- and Jack and Shelly paid every cent. An investment, they called it. The return was implied: good grades, a successful career and income to create college funds for children of her own. The straight line.
Maybe, Melissa thinks now. But maybe there is something else, a more wandering path to fulfillment. She is falling in love with Freihofer and indulging whims like searching for Montana's best beef jerky, writing letters by hand and hiking each morning. When Freihofer, who works part time as a rafting guide, asks what she will do next, she mentions not career possibilities but possible adventures she has researched online. "Why waste my time continuing to apply for jobs that don't want me?" she says. Instead, she imagines a future far away. A yoga ashram in Nepal? Trekking through Argentina? Picking grapes at a vineyard in New Zealand? A road trip across Australia?
All she knows for certain is that she wants to save $4,000 for airfare and depart in early 2010, for somewhere. "I don't want to look back after 30 years in a cubicle and think, 'I should have.' "
It is an outlook some in her family struggle to comprehend. When Melissa mentions the yoga ashram, her sister responds with an e-mail demanding a more practical plan, "by the end of business hours today." Her brother visits from Australia and, during a fight over access to the shower, calls Melissa worthless for living at home. Shelly comes upstairs to referee. "You two figure this out," she says, "because I really don't want either of you here." It is an untruth spoken during a moment of irritation, but Melissa bursts into tears and rolls the words around in her head for days. Has she become a burden to her parents? It is the one thought that makes her want to find a cubicle, fast.
"We just want you to be happy," Shelly says now, in the living room.
"I know," Melissa says. "Me, too."
"It will work out," Shelly says.
"I hope so," Melissa says.
They are silent for a moment, looking at each other, and then the conversation begins again.
"What do you think you will do?" Shelly asks.
"I don't know," Melissa says.
* * *
She has invented a dozen ways to say those words -- "I don't know." When former teachers or her parents' friends ask about her plans, Melissa's answer is professional: "I'm looking at my options." When she sees inquiring high school friends, her answer is more casual: "Oh, I'm still figuring things out."
"I used to tell people about the jobs I was applying for, and at least that sounded better," she says. "But now I'm not applying for anything, and I don't really know what to tell them. 'Oh, I'm just hanging out.' Or, 'Oh, I couldn't find a job, so I'm living at home.' You end up getting all these awkward responses and weird looks."
The other possibility would be a complete, honest answer: that, actually, she's doesn't feel in a hurry to find a job anymore. That she is now wondering why she ever felt hurried. That maybe this whole thing is a blessing. That maybe the roundabout path offers more than the straight line.
But that answer, she thinks, would sound strangest of all in this place she once left with such determination, so she reserves it only for Freihofer, who mostly listens and nods and one day agrees that they should leave town and go for a long drive just because they can. They pull away from the guest room, out of Missoula and into the mountains. The air is crisp, and Melissa rolls down her window. Every mile brings a new ambition. They pass a mountain. "I want to climb that," she says. They see a wolf refuge. "I want to visit there."
She drives and eats homemade puppy chow while Freihofer strums a miniature ukulele in the passenger seat. Their destination is Glacier National Park, to the north, but they zigzag across the state to buy beef jerky, pose next to a tacky plastic dinosaur and drink whiskey at a stop in Great Falls, Mont., where a woman dressed as a mermaid swims in a pool behind the bar. All told, it is a detour of 24 hours and 200 miles.
As they continue to drive, Melissa and Freihofer make a game of counting how many of their friends have secured jobs. Freihofer, who plans to spend the winter exploring Antarctica, knows three who have moved abroad to travel, two who work as adventure guides and two who have become teaching assistants. "Jobs, but not really career-type jobs," he says. Melissa knows of friends who are "hanging out" at their homes in California and New York, and of a former roommate who is interning at GW. Another friend was hired by a publishing house in New York but has been laid off.
"The economy is almost convenient in a sick way, because everybody is off on adventures," Freihofer says. "It's an excuse to do whatever you want."
"Yeah," Melissa says. "I don't think my parents would understand if I was turning down jobs and doing this."
"I figure if I don't have a real job in two or three years, my parents will get on me," Freihofer says. "My dad doesn't want me to get too comfortable floating around and selling myself short."
"I probably have a year," Melissa says, "but I can stretch it."
"Vague, short-term goals -- that's all anybody has right now," Freihofer says.
"We can figure out the long-term stuff later," Melissa says.
They pass through an Indian reservation, continue over the peaks of Glacier, exit onto a dirt road and travel toward the Canadian border. Finally, just before dusk, they arrive at a tiny outpost called Polebridge and throw their sleeping bags onto a sagging mattress at the North Fork Hostel. The town, population 50, lacks electricity, so they use propane lamps and candles to play cards late into the night.
They walk outside at 10 p.m. to look at a sky littered with stars and scan the surrounding mountains for mountain lions, moose or bears. "I think I see something," Melissa says, before deciding it's only a bush.
The sun wakes them up early the next morning, and they decide to go hiking. Melissa knows of a trail that ends at a fire tower, so she leads. She follows a dirt path around one switchback, then another, and another, until she has ascended a mountain and reached the base of the tower. She climbs a ladder to the top, stands on a platform and surveys the vista. There is nothing to hear but the wind. There is no one to see for miles and miles. There are no office buildings, no expectations.
All she sees are deep blue lakes, snow-capped mountains and clouds floating above dense forest. The view seems endless. So do the possibilities.
She turns to Freihofer: "I wonder what our friends are doing right now in their cubicles."
Friday, November 20, 2009
Metro ride
One thing interesting about working at odd hours is that you've got to ride metro with odd people instead of stone faced morning commuters.
Today, Friday night 11pm, I overheard the conversation between a girl and a guy, looking like two late night bar hopping teenagers.
Girl: You are a nice guy.
Guy: No, I'm an A-sshole.
Girl: No, you are not. You are nice to E-verybody.
Guy: I'm only nice to you.
Girl: You are nice to me. And you are nice to A-ll my friends.
Guy: You mean XXX? She's such a slut.
Girl: She's not. She's just loud and obnoxious.
Guy: She's a bitch.
Girl: She's my best friend since 7th grade. You know what, she does gymnastics.
Guy: No way. She weighs like, a half TON. She could lost 100 pounds.
Girl: Noooo, may be 20 pounds.
Today, Friday night 11pm, I overheard the conversation between a girl and a guy, looking like two late night bar hopping teenagers.
Girl: You are a nice guy.
Guy: No, I'm an A-sshole.
Girl: No, you are not. You are nice to E-verybody.
Guy: I'm only nice to you.
Girl: You are nice to me. And you are nice to A-ll my friends.
Guy: You mean XXX? She's such a slut.
Girl: She's not. She's just loud and obnoxious.
Guy: She's a bitch.
Girl: She's my best friend since 7th grade. You know what, she does gymnastics.
Guy: No way. She weighs like, a half TON. She could lost 100 pounds.
Girl: Noooo, may be 20 pounds.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
号外！号外！
Photo from: realitytvmagazine.com
CMT News
Julianne Hough Won't Return to Dancing With the Stars' Ninth Season
Julianne Hough will not participate in the ninth season of Dancing With the Stars, according to an interview with Ryan Seacrest on Monday night in Los Angeles. Hough was attending the film premiere of New Moon in Los Angeles. She did not elaborate about returning to the show in future seasons. Hough is not participating in the current season of Dancing With the Stars. She and Chuck Wicks, her boyfriend and dancing partner from a previous season, broke up earlier this month.
我说吧，我说吧，上一季Julianne和Chuck参加Dancing with the Stars时，我就大胆预言了他们俩很快就会散，被我说中了吧。俩人一块跳舞都没chemistry。要我说，Julianne跟Chuck当时高调公开恋情还以情侣身份参赛，就是利用这个节目和Chuck歌手的身份为她自己进军歌坛造势，这不，现在人家专辑也发了，广告上也露脸了，电影也拍了，也就该散了。
Julianne Hough Won't Return to Dancing With the Stars' Ninth Season
Julianne Hough will not participate in the ninth season of Dancing With the Stars, according to an interview with Ryan Seacrest on Monday night in Los Angeles. Hough was attending the film premiere of New Moon in Los Angeles. She did not elaborate about returning to the show in future seasons. Hough is not participating in the current season of Dancing With the Stars. She and Chuck Wicks, her boyfriend and dancing partner from a previous season, broke up earlier this month.
我说吧，我说吧，上一季Julianne和Chuck参加Dancing with the Stars时，我就大胆预言了他们俩很快就会散，被我说中了吧。俩人一块跳舞都没chemistry。要我说，Julianne跟Chuck当时高调公开恋情还以情侣身份参赛，就是利用这个节目和Chuck歌手的身份为她自己进军歌坛造势，这不，现在人家专辑也发了，广告上也露脸了，电影也拍了，也就该散了。
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
奥巴马VS乳腺癌
photo from washingtonpost.com奥巴马访华，昨天在上海与青年对话，今天与胡CORE举行新闻发布会，中文媒体上至新华社下至未名绝对是头条呀。新华社用只有国庆阅兵或神六上天才用的超大字体在首页打出中美联合声明的横幅，未名已经人肉出了向奥巴马提问的“假学生”来头不小，凤凰网独家披露胡CORE请奥巴马晚宴吃切羊肉，对比美国几大报纸今天的头条，足见总统访华在美国人心目中的地位。
华盛顿邮报、纽约时报和华尔街日报三大报今天的头版全部都是一篇乳腺X光的文章，说一个由政府任命的独立小组建议40岁以上的妇女不用每年照X光来查是否得乳腺癌了，每隔一年照一回就行了。华盛顿邮报首页倒是登了一张中国街头卖的奥巴马身穿红军军装的文化衫。CNN还专门跑到上海一个市场去暗访卖这种文化衫的商贩，结果被市场保安轰出来了。http://us.cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2009/11/15/chang.china.obama.anticipation.cnn
Saturday, November 14, 2009
New York, I Love You
Mike生日这天我们冒雨去看New York, I Love You。这部电影堪称纽约版建国大业，里面叫上名的叫不上名的明星一堆堆的。
IMDB上一个评论很是确切：It's like having to search through a bag of mixed nuts full of crappy peanuts to find the few almonds left。这部由13个不同导演拍的短片组成的电影，有的给你惊喜，有的不明所以。
其中我最爱的是小偷和大偷的故事，还有作家和妓女的故事。
据说电影要求每个导演只有24小时拍摄时间，一个星期的剪片时间，并且故事需反映纽约一个区的特色。
最后看字幕才知道小偷和大偷是姜文导的，故事和拍摄手法都令人想起杜其峰的《文雀》，但在光天化日之下纽约一个酒吧里轻声放着崔键的歌，这么矫情的事也只有姜文干得出来。
IMDB上一个评论很是确切：It's like having to search through a bag of mixed nuts full of crappy peanuts to find the few almonds left。这部由13个不同导演拍的短片组成的电影，有的给你惊喜，有的不明所以。
其中我最爱的是小偷和大偷的故事，还有作家和妓女的故事。
据说电影要求每个导演只有24小时拍摄时间，一个星期的剪片时间，并且故事需反映纽约一个区的特色。
最后看字幕才知道小偷和大偷是姜文导的，故事和拍摄手法都令人想起杜其峰的《文雀》，但在光天化日之下纽约一个酒吧里轻声放着崔键的歌，这么矫情的事也只有姜文干得出来。
Holiday gift idea
This is one gift idea recommended by the New York Times 2009 Holiday Gift Guide: bra $478 and panty $388.Are we out of recession? Definitely yes, according to the NYT editors.
And the bloody bra and panty set isn't the most outrageous idea at all. Among the Guide's "bonus round" ideas are: $4,850 Chanel fur muff,
$1,395 men's jeans, and "price upon request" Doir pendant.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
让子弹飞
我写中文喜欢用成语，没有成语四个字也行，朗朗上口呀。今天看到这则新闻，读起来真上口呀，到处都是四个字四个字的，这个记者真有水平！
由英皇电影、中影集团、中联传播、幸福蓝海和北京不亦乐乎电影公司共同制作，投资近1亿5千万港币的传奇巨制《让子弹飞》，是国际级大导演姜文历时三年准备、自导自演的心血作品，荷里活巨星周润发及中国国宝级演员葛优领衔主演，及陈坤、胡军等多位型男主演，可谓华语影坛空前绝后的创举。电影计划于明天国庆档期全国上映。
电影讲述北洋军阀的荒唐年代，发生在中国南方的一个传奇故事。影片以型格的西部特色灌入幽默讽刺的剧情，笑位不绝，更具备连场惊险的动作场面，必定是华语影坛有史以来最受期待的巨制。纵使2010年全国贺岁片汹涌而来，但刚刚开拍的《让子弹飞》却抢去所有即将上映大片的风头。
《让子弹飞》于昨日下午(11月10日)在北京举行首个记者发布会，全男班演员首次亮相，华语影坛三大巨匠姜文、周润发、葛优震撼登场，并携陈坤、胡军、姚橹、廖凡、张默等六大小生集体亮相，共同见证了这部华语影坛史诗传奇大片的破冰首航。导演姜文更为每位演员度身订造一个前所未见的形象，令每位演员也有破格演出，保证为观众带来崭新惊喜。三位主角的角色性格亦正亦邪，未到最后一刻也难以摸清各人底蕴，令观众的想象空间一直无限伸延。
身为主要投资方的英皇集团主席杨受成先生亦有亲自出席北京发布会，身体力行以表重视。另一投资方 -- 中影集团的董事长韩三平更预期《让子弹飞》可以冲击中国电影票房纪录，成就华语电影新传奇。
发布会的焦点定必落在姜文、周润发、葛优三位天王级人物身上，三位对影坛史上有重大影响力的大人物终能首次合作，实现了“三英会战”超级阵容。发布会上，姜文、周润发和葛优彼此间惺惺相惜、默契十足而且幽默地互相揶揄，令整个发布会充满了英雄豪情及欢乐气氛。同时三人亦散发出不同男人味，他们更笑言三人市场不一，分别吸纳不同女性，所以必能和平共处，彼此不会「争风呷醋」。
在谈到这次梦幻组合时，周润发称这是一部让他感到兴奋和期待的作品；葛优以惯常的幽默表示合作新鲜有趣；姜文则透露身兼导演之责，将会令每位演员最精彩的部份带给观众，更透露三位主角将有斗智斗谋及刀光剑影的场面，令观众有感一秒也不能错过。
由英皇电影、中影集团、中联传播、幸福蓝海和北京不亦乐乎电影公司共同制作，投资近1亿5千万港币的传奇巨制《让子弹飞》，是国际级大导演姜文历时三年准备、自导自演的心血作品，荷里活巨星周润发及中国国宝级演员葛优领衔主演，及陈坤、胡军等多位型男主演，可谓华语影坛空前绝后的创举。电影计划于明天国庆档期全国上映。
电影讲述北洋军阀的荒唐年代，发生在中国南方的一个传奇故事。影片以型格的西部特色灌入幽默讽刺的剧情，笑位不绝，更具备连场惊险的动作场面，必定是华语影坛有史以来最受期待的巨制。纵使2010年全国贺岁片汹涌而来，但刚刚开拍的《让子弹飞》却抢去所有即将上映大片的风头。
《让子弹飞》于昨日下午(11月10日)在北京举行首个记者发布会，全男班演员首次亮相，华语影坛三大巨匠姜文、周润发、葛优震撼登场，并携陈坤、胡军、姚橹、廖凡、张默等六大小生集体亮相，共同见证了这部华语影坛史诗传奇大片的破冰首航。导演姜文更为每位演员度身订造一个前所未见的形象，令每位演员也有破格演出，保证为观众带来崭新惊喜。三位主角的角色性格亦正亦邪，未到最后一刻也难以摸清各人底蕴，令观众的想象空间一直无限伸延。
身为主要投资方的英皇集团主席杨受成先生亦有亲自出席北京发布会，身体力行以表重视。另一投资方 -- 中影集团的董事长韩三平更预期《让子弹飞》可以冲击中国电影票房纪录，成就华语电影新传奇。
发布会的焦点定必落在姜文、周润发、葛优三位天王级人物身上，三位对影坛史上有重大影响力的大人物终能首次合作，实现了“三英会战”超级阵容。发布会上，姜文、周润发和葛优彼此间惺惺相惜、默契十足而且幽默地互相揶揄，令整个发布会充满了英雄豪情及欢乐气氛。同时三人亦散发出不同男人味，他们更笑言三人市场不一，分别吸纳不同女性，所以必能和平共处，彼此不会「争风呷醋」。
在谈到这次梦幻组合时，周润发称这是一部让他感到兴奋和期待的作品；葛优以惯常的幽默表示合作新鲜有趣；姜文则透露身兼导演之责，将会令每位演员最精彩的部份带给观众，更透露三位主角将有斗智斗谋及刀光剑影的场面，令观众有感一秒也不能错过。
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
An Education
Photo from http://teaser-trailer.com
周末跟Joyce看了电影“An Education”，非常励志的电影。
故事设在60年代的伦敦，Jenny是个16岁的漂亮女中学生，她的梦想是去巴黎，听法国音乐，看法国电影，想什么时候听就什么时候听，想什么时候看就什么时候看。她的父母希望成绩优秀的女儿进牛津大学。有一天，她遇到一个年纪至少大她一倍事业有成的David，他对她展开了任何一个情蔸初开的少女都难以抗拒的攻势。他带她去听古典音乐会，去高级餐厅，去舞厅跳舞，去巴黎。这不就是她梦想的生活吗，甚至比她梦想得还要好，那还要上什么大学呢？就在她放弃考牛津准备和他结婚时却发现原来这一切都是个大骗局。
影片试图驳斥“干得好不如嫁得好”的理论，告诫怀春少女不要为爱情蒙蔽双眼，而是应该争取受教育自强自立。但是电影的讽刺意义却在于，虽然家长和学校都试图向Jenny灌输上大学才是正途的思想，但他们都没能给Jenny一个有说服力的理由，为什么要上大学？最后David的骗局及时揭穿，Jenny重拾书本考进牛津。但要是这个骗局没有那么早被揭穿呢，要是这根本不是骗局，David就是一个完美丈夫呢？那是不是就没必要上大学了呢？
当Jenny质问校长为什么一定要上大学时，校长说那样你就可以当个公务员什么的呀，这对怀着巴黎梦的16岁少女来说显然没有任何吸引力。Jenny走投无路来找一直很赏识她的戴着黑边方框眼镜的女老师，外表刻板的单身女老师住在一个小巧但宽敞的公寓里，客厅明亮而温暖，墙上挂满了画和明信片，随处可见的书籍零乱而有序，桌上摆着精美的茶具。她在这一刻似乎明白了教育的意义。
教育的目的不是钓到金龟婿的跳板，也不仅仅是获得糊口能力的途径，教育的目的应该是帮助你获得心灵自由的能力。
在IMDB上发现好玩的一点，片中饰演David合伙人兼好友的女朋友的是Rosamund Pike，她在傲慢与偏见中演大姐Jane，在这里她演一个无脑金发美女，她本人可是正宗牛津毕业生呢。
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Dress for sale, $1 cheaper!
Glitz Dress by CALYPSO
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From http://www.calypso-celle.com/
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Gore’s Dual Role in Spotlight: Advocate and Investor
我是相信气候变暖并支持绿色能源的，很大原因是受美国前总统戈尔的纪录片《不便的真相》的影响，当他站在梯子上都够不到一个图表中几年后全球二氧化碳排放量攀升的水平时，我相信电影院中每个人都和我一样被吓着了。
今天《纽约时报》一篇有关戈尔与他的绿色投资的文章，虽然没有动摇我对绿色能源的支持，但这篇文章的确提出了戈尔同时作为倡导者和投资者是否存在利益冲突的问题。
文章说，戈尔所在的风险投资公司去年给一家制造可以提高供电效率的产品的公司投资了7500万美元，这家名叫Silver Spring Networks的公司将为家庭和企业用户安装智能电表。上个星期，美国能源部宣布政府将拨款340亿美元安装数以百万计的智能电表，其中5.6亿美元将投给与戈尔投资的公司有安装合同的电力公司。这就意味着戈尔和他的风投合伙人在未来几年就可以收回数倍于他们的投资。
批评人士，大部分是右派政治人士和气候变暖理论怀疑者，说戈尔很快将成为全球首位“二氧化碳亿万富翁”。
戈尔回应说，他只不过是言行一致，把他的钱投资在他所倡导的领域罢了(he is simply putting his money where his mouth is)。他说，“你觉得在这个国家积极从商有什么错吗？我对此感到骄傲，非常骄傲。”
戈尔说，过去几十年来，他的投资活动一直都与他的公开倡导相一致。
戈尔2001年离开政府时，他公开的资产不足200万美元。作为普通公民，戈尔没有义务公布他的收入和资产。自2001年以来，他的身价飙升，受益于他在苹果电脑和谷歌的适时投资，出书和电影的收益，以及演讲收入。尽管戈尔目前的净资产不得而知，但从他最近慷慨解囊投资朋友公司的大手笔中也可大概猜测出他自己的财富规模。他最近投资3500万美元给eBay首任总裁Jeffrey Skoll创办的私人股本基金Capricorn Investment Group。
在NYT网站上给这篇文章留言的读者中有人说，戈尔是在利用人们的恐惧来赚钱。还有一位自称投票选了奥巴马、克里和戈尔的读者说，当戈尔宣布加入风投公司Kleiner时他感到非常失望，因为他觉得这对他的客观公正性大大打了折扣。你不能又当球员又当裁判。还有人说，要是戈尔没有自己投资，右翼派和气候变暖怀疑者就会质问他为什么自己不投资在他口头上支持的行业，现在他投资了，这些人又开始质疑他的动机。
戈尔今年4月在国会一个能源委员会的听证会也遭到一位议员的类似质疑。戈尔对议员说，如果你认为我为全球气候变暖问题奋斗了30年是因为贪婪，那么你不了解我这个人。
我对戈尔的人格没有任何怀疑，我对他致力于绿色能源事业的动机也毫不怀疑。但我也认为这里的确有利益冲突问题，就像分析师推荐一个股票时也必须披露他是否持有这个股票，投资者有权获知这种信息，然后再决定他是否信任他的推荐。
NYT article link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/business/energy-environment/03gore.html
11月星象：有外块！
Your first opportunity will come November 11, when Mercury and Uranus will work together, allowing you to come up with a bundle of fresh ideas for a creative or literary project, or to make more money. Mercury is now in your second house of earned income and will send a beam to Uranus in your house of work projects. You may get a new client or side job or find a way to make overtime pay. Work and money will be nicely united on this day, November 11.
On November 13, a Friday, and the following day, Saturday, November 14, you will have an outstanding opportunity to find more work, perhaps to do on the side, perhaps over the weekend. Keep your cell phone powered up because the opportunity could come in weird and very sudden ways. It looks like you will be at the right place at the right time.
You will have a chance to improve your finances even more after the new moon, November 16. In fact, you may even hear of a raise or get an offer for a new job.
Uranus, the planet that brings lightning bolts of news, will be very friendly to that new moon, so expect the unexpected! Uranus is in your house of work projects, so it appears that your performance on a current project may put you on the short list of "employees we don't want to lose." If you're interviewing for a new job, you will go on the list of "candidates we need to compensate well to attract and keep." Either way, you could be sitting very pretty. I will admit that if you change jobs this month, you would likely move to a job on the same level, not one that brings more power or responsibility. There will be a major eclipse in your career status and honors sector next month on December 31. That eclipse may bring big news, so before you make any big decisions, you may want to wait to see what happens then.
On November 13, a Friday, and the following day, Saturday, November 14, you will have an outstanding opportunity to find more work, perhaps to do on the side, perhaps over the weekend. Keep your cell phone powered up because the opportunity could come in weird and very sudden ways. It looks like you will be at the right place at the right time.
You will have a chance to improve your finances even more after the new moon, November 16. In fact, you may even hear of a raise or get an offer for a new job.
Uranus, the planet that brings lightning bolts of news, will be very friendly to that new moon, so expect the unexpected! Uranus is in your house of work projects, so it appears that your performance on a current project may put you on the short list of "employees we don't want to lose." If you're interviewing for a new job, you will go on the list of "candidates we need to compensate well to attract and keep." Either way, you could be sitting very pretty. I will admit that if you change jobs this month, you would likely move to a job on the same level, not one that brings more power or responsibility. There will be a major eclipse in your career status and honors sector next month on December 31. That eclipse may bring big news, so before you make any big decisions, you may want to wait to see what happens then.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Halloween costume?
You may wonder if this is a Halloween party. But no, this is Thom Browne's lineup at Paris Fashion Week.
From Jak & Jil's blog: http://jakandjil.com/blog/?p=2835#comments
也有不难看的LV
I don't mind having a LV like this one.
From Jak & Jil's blog: http://jakandjil.com/blog/?p=3013
Chic Hoodi
没想到Hoodi都能这么Chic，回头就把我的袖子剪了，再梳一大背头。
From Jak & Jil's blog: http://jakandjil.com/blog/?p=3152#comments
Flower & Yarn
A gloomy day like today makes me depressed, so I bought some flowers. The whole room is brightened up, so is my heart.
I also bought some yarn. This will be my next project.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
China, a greater force for a better world
《华盛顿邮报》今天刊登了一篇香港前特首董建华的评论文章，他在文章中列举了中国建国60年来值得庆祝的种种变化，并驳斥了中国威胁论。文章写得好坏暂且不评，仅《华盛顿邮报》刊登董建华为中国歌功颂德的文章这一行动就不由得让人怀疑它的动机。
八年前，《华盛顿邮报》一评论文章称董建华是中共的“傀儡”，因为他紧跟北京言论猛批法轮功。那么今天WP刊登这篇董建华的文章到底是显示媒体公正呢，还是暗指他八年之后仍不改共奴本色呢?
以下是今天文章的译文：
中国有很多值得庆祝
董建华
这个月，全世界的中国人都在热情地庆祝中华人民共和国成立60周年。这对别人来说可能难以理解，但对中国人来说，这种感情来自对一个完全不同的中国的记忆，来自对一个命运并不总是像今天一样充满希望的国家的记忆。
1949年10月1日中华人民共和国成立时，政治体制刚刚开始形成，人民食不果腹，人均寿命35岁，婴儿死亡率高达20%，全国文盲率80%，教育未成系统，医疗和社会保障全无，国库空虚，经济破产，没有任何工业，基础设施匮乏。的确，中国人民已经经受了长达一个世纪的政府不力、政治不稳、外攻和内战不断。
中华人民共和国成立以来的六十年中，中国经济成为世界第三大经济，人均寿命达到73岁，婴儿死亡率下降到1.5%，文盲率下降到5%，所有儿童均可接受九年制义务教育，医疗和社会保障日益改善，现代工业高速发展，公路、铁路、机场和港口遍布全国。在民主、法制和人权方面(包括55个少数民族的权力)，中国已经取得巨大进展。在人类历史上，没有任何一个国家曾在这么短时间内为这么多人口带来这么大的改善。
这一切是怎么发生的呢?
一个主要因素是我们有强大的决心找到我们自己前进的道路。即使在一个世纪前清朝灭亡之前，中国就在探寻一个前进的道路。我们试过学习日本、德国、美国，甚至苏联，但这些国家的发展模式对中国来说都不是正确的模式。中国当时的情况太过混乱，贫困太过严重，人口太多，自然资源不足。我们的国家太虚弱，以至于不能对外来干预作出反应。中国面临的挑战要求其有一个与中国文化、历史和发展阶段相一致的发展模式。
在中国悠久的历史中，繁荣昌盛时期总是伴随一个强大开明的中央政府，这使中国人民普遍信任强权政府。今天我们就有这样一个拥有清晰远见和开明政策的政府。尽管北京政府可能拘泥于原则，但同时也证明了在必要时它可以是灵活务实的。北京已经可以制定健全长期的整体宏观经济和地缘政治政策，而不再追求短期政治利益。
中国的崛起还是政府以民为中心的结果。政府相信，消除贫困是根本，是所有发展政策的首要任务。中国已经使13亿人民摆脱赤贫，生活水平大大提高。
中国通过在不同利益群体中强调共同利益，来缓和改革和发展带来的社会矛盾，大力宣传民族和谐是发展途径。中国还认识到需要让各个贫富阶层和所有56个民族都来分享成功的果实。
随着中国向世界开放，中国人民已经认识到，他们的命运和全世界日益紧密地交织在一起。中国和全世界都在为我们共同面临的挑战感到焦虑，比如解决全球气候变暖，保护环境，创建能源安全，确保全球金融稳定，打击恐怖主义，防止核武器扩散和阻止传染性疾病的传播。
一些人担心，随着中国经济继续发展，中国将成为霸权强国。值得注意的是，在大概500年前，中国经济实力处于顶峰时，它控制了全世界经济的大约30%，但中国并没有向海外扩张，而是向邻国派出使者，目的仅仅是进行贸易和表示友好。中国崇尚“以和为贵”的传统，和平与和谐高于一切，这个传统将确保中国的发展目标是为了自己的利益以及世界的利益。
另一点值得注意的是，中国政府的举措得到了民众的大力支持，皮尤研究中心发布的2008年全球态度调查显示，86%的中国人对中国发展的方向感到满意。
中国的历史行程将继续塑造它的未来。中国是一个拥有13亿人口的发展中国家，近60%的人口生活在广阔的农村地区。中国要实现全面现代化仍需数十年时间。但我们60年来的进步应该会使中国人民对未来60年充满信心，并让其他国家相信，中国将成为一个巨大的力量推动世界变得更好。
Washington Post article link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/30/AR2009103002872.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
八年前，《华盛顿邮报》一评论文章称董建华是中共的“傀儡”，因为他紧跟北京言论猛批法轮功。那么今天WP刊登这篇董建华的文章到底是显示媒体公正呢，还是暗指他八年之后仍不改共奴本色呢?
以下是今天文章的译文：
中国有很多值得庆祝
董建华
这个月，全世界的中国人都在热情地庆祝中华人民共和国成立60周年。这对别人来说可能难以理解，但对中国人来说，这种感情来自对一个完全不同的中国的记忆，来自对一个命运并不总是像今天一样充满希望的国家的记忆。
1949年10月1日中华人民共和国成立时，政治体制刚刚开始形成，人民食不果腹，人均寿命35岁，婴儿死亡率高达20%，全国文盲率80%，教育未成系统，医疗和社会保障全无，国库空虚，经济破产，没有任何工业，基础设施匮乏。的确，中国人民已经经受了长达一个世纪的政府不力、政治不稳、外攻和内战不断。
中华人民共和国成立以来的六十年中，中国经济成为世界第三大经济，人均寿命达到73岁，婴儿死亡率下降到1.5%，文盲率下降到5%，所有儿童均可接受九年制义务教育，医疗和社会保障日益改善，现代工业高速发展，公路、铁路、机场和港口遍布全国。在民主、法制和人权方面(包括55个少数民族的权力)，中国已经取得巨大进展。在人类历史上，没有任何一个国家曾在这么短时间内为这么多人口带来这么大的改善。
这一切是怎么发生的呢?
一个主要因素是我们有强大的决心找到我们自己前进的道路。即使在一个世纪前清朝灭亡之前，中国就在探寻一个前进的道路。我们试过学习日本、德国、美国，甚至苏联，但这些国家的发展模式对中国来说都不是正确的模式。中国当时的情况太过混乱，贫困太过严重，人口太多，自然资源不足。我们的国家太虚弱，以至于不能对外来干预作出反应。中国面临的挑战要求其有一个与中国文化、历史和发展阶段相一致的发展模式。
在中国悠久的历史中，繁荣昌盛时期总是伴随一个强大开明的中央政府，这使中国人民普遍信任强权政府。今天我们就有这样一个拥有清晰远见和开明政策的政府。尽管北京政府可能拘泥于原则，但同时也证明了在必要时它可以是灵活务实的。北京已经可以制定健全长期的整体宏观经济和地缘政治政策，而不再追求短期政治利益。
中国的崛起还是政府以民为中心的结果。政府相信，消除贫困是根本，是所有发展政策的首要任务。中国已经使13亿人民摆脱赤贫，生活水平大大提高。
中国通过在不同利益群体中强调共同利益，来缓和改革和发展带来的社会矛盾，大力宣传民族和谐是发展途径。中国还认识到需要让各个贫富阶层和所有56个民族都来分享成功的果实。
随着中国向世界开放，中国人民已经认识到，他们的命运和全世界日益紧密地交织在一起。中国和全世界都在为我们共同面临的挑战感到焦虑，比如解决全球气候变暖，保护环境，创建能源安全，确保全球金融稳定，打击恐怖主义，防止核武器扩散和阻止传染性疾病的传播。
一些人担心，随着中国经济继续发展，中国将成为霸权强国。值得注意的是，在大概500年前，中国经济实力处于顶峰时，它控制了全世界经济的大约30%，但中国并没有向海外扩张，而是向邻国派出使者，目的仅仅是进行贸易和表示友好。中国崇尚“以和为贵”的传统，和平与和谐高于一切，这个传统将确保中国的发展目标是为了自己的利益以及世界的利益。
另一点值得注意的是，中国政府的举措得到了民众的大力支持，皮尤研究中心发布的2008年全球态度调查显示，86%的中国人对中国发展的方向感到满意。
中国的历史行程将继续塑造它的未来。中国是一个拥有13亿人口的发展中国家，近60%的人口生活在广阔的农村地区。中国要实现全面现代化仍需数十年时间。但我们60年来的进步应该会使中国人民对未来60年充满信心，并让其他国家相信，中国将成为一个巨大的力量推动世界变得更好。
Washington Post article link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/30/AR2009103002872.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Power Jeans In, Designer Jeans Out
今天的《华尔街日报》和《纽约时报》不约而同地都有一篇关于牛仔裤的文章。WSJ的文章讲的是牛仔裤在政坛和商界要人中的日益兴起，而NYT的文章则说的是高级名牌牛仔裤风光不再。
WSJ：今年7月，当俄罗斯总理梅德韦杰夫与美国总统奥巴马共进晚餐时，梅德韦杰夫的穿着显得既放松又威武，他上身穿了一件做工精良的西装外套，熨烫笔挺的衬衫，脚上是一双价格不菲的系带皮鞋，而下身则穿了一条黑色直统牛仔裤。
WSJ将这种政坛和商界要人穿的牛仔裤叫“权力牛仔裤”(power jeans)，穿着者在一些重要场合穿牛仔裤是想对人们展示，他们是严肃的，也是勇于创新的，但又不是过于讲究的。
一条选择恰当的牛仔裤可以展示穿着者的自信和与时俱进。传统剪裁的牛仔裤带有一种劳动者本色，所以一位领导人身穿牛仔裤可以显示他愿意挽起袖子与劳动人民平起平坐的意思。而且牛仔裤还有一股叛逆的精神。在公司董事会议上，身穿牛仔裤的商界精英可以显得别有创意。
但是牛仔裤穿不好也会引起争议。一向有亲民形象的奥巴马最近在一次棒球比赛上因为身穿肥大高腰的“老爸牛仔裤”(dad jeans)而遭到媒体嘲讽。两年前，英国首相布莱尔穿牛仔裤会见布什时因为裤子太紧而受到批评。
《纽约时报》的文章虽然是在时尚版，却更像是一篇财经报导。它说，归功于经济衰退，原来卖300美元一条的高级名牌牛仔裤现在卖200美元一条了。
NYT：就像任何价格过高的商品一样，最终市场都会出现调整。而牛仔裤的清算日早就该来了。
当商家推出300美元一条的牛仔裤时，顾客真正开始质疑奢侈品的价格了。一条粗蓝布裤子和iPod一个价，这也太离谱了，离谱到商家不得不发明一个新词，"premium jeans", 来说明这种新式牛仔裤跟90年代100块一条的牛仔裤不一样。Premium的意思是溢价，所以你得支付额外的价格才能穿这种高级牛仔裤：一条迪奥牛仔裤卖580美元。经济衰退之前，高级名牌牛仔裤是服装行业增长最快的种类之一，顾客似乎愿意为一条Paris Hilton穿的最新款式牛仔裤付任何价钱。
但牛仔裤泡沫终于破裂了，很多价格贵的离谱的所谓名牌牛仔裤已经消失匿迹，仅存的一些品牌也降到了200美元以下。但即使这样利润仍很高。大部分名牌牛仔裤的零售价是批发价格的2.2倍，比如，如果Saks一条牛仔裤卖158美元，商店的进价就是72美元，而真正的生产成本甚至更低。
因此当年很多初创公司都进入了这个暴利行业。一个例子就是Evisu，它是1991年在日本创立的品牌，最初每个星期仅生产几十条，每条售价600美元，每条牛仔裤的口袋上都有一个手绘的海鴎标志。这个品牌的流行很快就令其发展成了全球特许经营品牌，销售额达到3000万美元。但过去4年来这个品牌一直在赔钱。
WSJ：今年7月，当俄罗斯总理梅德韦杰夫与美国总统奥巴马共进晚餐时，梅德韦杰夫的穿着显得既放松又威武，他上身穿了一件做工精良的西装外套，熨烫笔挺的衬衫，脚上是一双价格不菲的系带皮鞋，而下身则穿了一条黑色直统牛仔裤。
WSJ将这种政坛和商界要人穿的牛仔裤叫“权力牛仔裤”(power jeans)，穿着者在一些重要场合穿牛仔裤是想对人们展示，他们是严肃的，也是勇于创新的，但又不是过于讲究的。
一条选择恰当的牛仔裤可以展示穿着者的自信和与时俱进。传统剪裁的牛仔裤带有一种劳动者本色，所以一位领导人身穿牛仔裤可以显示他愿意挽起袖子与劳动人民平起平坐的意思。而且牛仔裤还有一股叛逆的精神。在公司董事会议上，身穿牛仔裤的商界精英可以显得别有创意。
但是牛仔裤穿不好也会引起争议。一向有亲民形象的奥巴马最近在一次棒球比赛上因为身穿肥大高腰的“老爸牛仔裤”(dad jeans)而遭到媒体嘲讽。两年前，英国首相布莱尔穿牛仔裤会见布什时因为裤子太紧而受到批评。
《纽约时报》的文章虽然是在时尚版，却更像是一篇财经报导。它说，归功于经济衰退，原来卖300美元一条的高级名牌牛仔裤现在卖200美元一条了。
NYT：就像任何价格过高的商品一样，最终市场都会出现调整。而牛仔裤的清算日早就该来了。
当商家推出300美元一条的牛仔裤时，顾客真正开始质疑奢侈品的价格了。一条粗蓝布裤子和iPod一个价，这也太离谱了，离谱到商家不得不发明一个新词，"premium jeans", 来说明这种新式牛仔裤跟90年代100块一条的牛仔裤不一样。Premium的意思是溢价，所以你得支付额外的价格才能穿这种高级牛仔裤：一条迪奥牛仔裤卖580美元。经济衰退之前，高级名牌牛仔裤是服装行业增长最快的种类之一，顾客似乎愿意为一条Paris Hilton穿的最新款式牛仔裤付任何价钱。
但牛仔裤泡沫终于破裂了，很多价格贵的离谱的所谓名牌牛仔裤已经消失匿迹，仅存的一些品牌也降到了200美元以下。但即使这样利润仍很高。大部分名牌牛仔裤的零售价是批发价格的2.2倍，比如，如果Saks一条牛仔裤卖158美元，商店的进价就是72美元，而真正的生产成本甚至更低。
因此当年很多初创公司都进入了这个暴利行业。一个例子就是Evisu，它是1991年在日本创立的品牌，最初每个星期仅生产几十条，每条售价600美元，每条牛仔裤的口袋上都有一个手绘的海鴎标志。这个品牌的流行很快就令其发展成了全球特许经营品牌，销售额达到3000万美元。但过去4年来这个品牌一直在赔钱。
Friday, October 23, 2009
Aging Gracefully
This is what I call aging gracefully, from my favorite fashion photographer's blog: The Sartorialist.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
闪亮的日子
过去两个星期为新接的一个急活搞得昏天黑地，今天终于告一段落了，上未名来溜哒，欧卖糕的，两个星期没读书没看报，曼哈顿西区的毛米自杀了！
“曼哈顿西区”是未名原创继醉钢琴的“那么，爱呢?” 之后另一篇吸引我追看的小说。“那么，爱呢?” 写尽北美WNS人生百态，“曼哈顿西区”则通过可爱可怜的毛米触动了我们每个人在残酷现实下逐渐坚硬的心灵中仍然柔软温暖的角落。
毛米是个在纽约研究贫民窟的社会学PHD学生，她充满幻想，感性浪漫，悲天悯人。她曾经穷困潦倒，奖学金被停，找工作无望，又被男友抛弃。她也曾努力像她的理性精英男前男友和华尔街白骨精闺蜜一样生活，而且就在一切似乎步入正轨的时候，PHD毕业，找到工作，她突然开煤气自杀了！
未名上一时哗然，有人说毛米不成熟，不负责任，也有人批评作者效颦欧亨利故弄玄虚。
毛米自杀是出于对不得不像别人一样生活的未来的恐惧和“深深的厌恶”，她怀念和热爱纯洁的美好的小资的幼稚的青春，她明白既然她不愿意长大变成像前男友和她闺蜜那样的成功人士，至少她还可以选择永远留在青春里。
批判毛米的人大概都属于成功“无痕”地度过了从青春到成人的过渡，我们在批判毛米懦弱和不成熟的时候，深为我们自己的成长而自豪，虽然我们不应该支持牺牲生命的作法，但至少我们应该尊重像毛米这样的理想主义的人的坚持。
谨以罗大佑的“闪亮的日子”献给毛米：
我来唱一首歌
古老的那首歌
我轻轻地唱
你慢慢地和
是否你还记得
过去的梦想
那充满希望灿烂的岁月
你我为了理想
历尽了艰苦
我们曾经哭泣
也曾共同欢笑
但愿你会记得
永远地记得
我们曾经拥有闪亮的日子
“曼哈顿西区”是未名原创继醉钢琴的“那么，爱呢?” 之后另一篇吸引我追看的小说。“那么，爱呢?” 写尽北美WNS人生百态，“曼哈顿西区”则通过可爱可怜的毛米触动了我们每个人在残酷现实下逐渐坚硬的心灵中仍然柔软温暖的角落。
毛米是个在纽约研究贫民窟的社会学PHD学生，她充满幻想，感性浪漫，悲天悯人。她曾经穷困潦倒，奖学金被停，找工作无望，又被男友抛弃。她也曾努力像她的理性精英男前男友和华尔街白骨精闺蜜一样生活，而且就在一切似乎步入正轨的时候，PHD毕业，找到工作，她突然开煤气自杀了！
未名上一时哗然，有人说毛米不成熟，不负责任，也有人批评作者效颦欧亨利故弄玄虚。
毛米自杀是出于对不得不像别人一样生活的未来的恐惧和“深深的厌恶”，她怀念和热爱纯洁的美好的小资的幼稚的青春，她明白既然她不愿意长大变成像前男友和她闺蜜那样的成功人士，至少她还可以选择永远留在青春里。
批判毛米的人大概都属于成功“无痕”地度过了从青春到成人的过渡，我们在批判毛米懦弱和不成熟的时候，深为我们自己的成长而自豪，虽然我们不应该支持牺牲生命的作法，但至少我们应该尊重像毛米这样的理想主义的人的坚持。
谨以罗大佑的“闪亮的日子”献给毛米：
我来唱一首歌
古老的那首歌
我轻轻地唱
你慢慢地和
是否你还记得
过去的梦想
那充满希望灿烂的岁月
你我为了理想
历尽了艰苦
我们曾经哭泣
也曾共同欢笑
但愿你会记得
永远地记得
我们曾经拥有闪亮的日子
Friday, October 9, 2009
PhotoshopDisasters
Just found this great blog: http://photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com/
Can't help smiling when I saw the little girl in mirror, although what I found funny is she looks like brushing her teeth while actually she's supposed to hold a lipstick.
Can't help smiling when I saw the little girl in mirror, although what I found funny is she looks like brushing her teeth while actually she's supposed to hold a lipstick.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
卖水果的价值观
看看外媒是怎么报导中国国庆阅兵的?
10月1日《纽约时报》文章标题是“On Day for China Pride, Little Interest in Ideology ”。
文章上来采访的是一位23岁在街上摆摊卖水果的，小伙子回想历史课本讲的中国是怎样被列强侵略，现在他为中国在这么短的时间从一个贫穷落后国家发展成国际强国而感到骄傲。
可是记者不想听他唠叨“俺骄傲”，偏要让人家说说中国的核心价值观(core values)是什么。一下子把小伙子问懵了，然后记者很无耻地说人家就像在课堂上被老师提问但不会答的学生。
过了好半天，这位卖水果的小贩说应该是“中国向西方学习的能力吧”，还有就是“劳动人民的勤劳努力”。
好哇，就等你这句呢。然后这位记者就开始blar blar blar，什么你中国经济再发展得快，人民生活得好，可你没价值观呀，啧啧，并做摇头装。
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/world/asia/01china.html
10月1日《纽约时报》文章标题是“On Day for China Pride, Little Interest in Ideology ”。
文章上来采访的是一位23岁在街上摆摊卖水果的，小伙子回想历史课本讲的中国是怎样被列强侵略，现在他为中国在这么短的时间从一个贫穷落后国家发展成国际强国而感到骄傲。
可是记者不想听他唠叨“俺骄傲”，偏要让人家说说中国的核心价值观(core values)是什么。一下子把小伙子问懵了，然后记者很无耻地说人家就像在课堂上被老师提问但不会答的学生。
过了好半天，这位卖水果的小贩说应该是“中国向西方学习的能力吧”，还有就是“劳动人民的勤劳努力”。
好哇，就等你这句呢。然后这位记者就开始blar blar blar，什么你中国经济再发展得快，人民生活得好，可你没价值观呀，啧啧，并做摇头装。
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/world/asia/01china.html
Thursday, October 1, 2009
It's a glorious time to be a Libra!
October, it's a glorious time to be a Libra!
This day - October 28 - will be so glorious for you. Circle it for other purposes, too. You will be the apple of Venus' eye, so use this day to your ultimate benefit - for a first date, to reconnect with an old love, to fan the fires of existing love, but also to schedule a job interview, to send a query letter, to present a big idea, to make a big sale, or negotiate something in your favor - you name it!
This day - October 28 - will be so glorious for you. Circle it for other purposes, too. You will be the apple of Venus' eye, so use this day to your ultimate benefit - for a first date, to reconnect with an old love, to fan the fires of existing love, but also to schedule a job interview, to send a query letter, to present a big idea, to make a big sale, or negotiate something in your favor - you name it!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The Return of Iron Man
Photo from EW.com
最期待的电影，钢铁侠2。
第一部就很喜欢，不同于其他的Super Heroes，本来是性格懦弱的小人物，戴上面具才成为无所不惧的大英雄，Iron Man则不同，生活中的他和穿上钢铁战衣的他同样精彩，最爱第一部的结尾，I AM Iron Man! 大丈夫行不更名，坐不改姓，乃真英雄也！
It's okay Dear!
费德勒在他的官网上宣布退出上海和东京的大师赛。这是他给粉丝的公开信:
Dear Fans
I am disappointed that I have to withdraw from Tokyo and Shanghai as they are two of my favorite cities in the world and the fans have been great to me over the years. After consultation with my team and doctors, I decided to take the difficult decision to withdraw from both tournaments so that I can give my body a chance to rest, rehabilitate and fully recover from a physically challenging year.
Kind regards
Roger
下面是一个粉丝的回贴:
OMG Roger, it's okay Dear! Don't you worry about us, we just want you to be completely healthy and happy. Don't you come back until you have a huge smile on our face ;)
Get better soon! I already miss you...
With all my love:
Chloe
OMG，我作为超级费粉，都觉得肉麻了。
Dear Fans
I am disappointed that I have to withdraw from Tokyo and Shanghai as they are two of my favorite cities in the world and the fans have been great to me over the years. After consultation with my team and doctors, I decided to take the difficult decision to withdraw from both tournaments so that I can give my body a chance to rest, rehabilitate and fully recover from a physically challenging year.
Kind regards
Roger
下面是一个粉丝的回贴:
OMG Roger, it's okay Dear! Don't you worry about us, we just want you to be completely healthy and happy. Don't you come back until you have a huge smile on our face ;)
Get better soon! I already miss you...
With all my love:
Chloe
OMG，我作为超级费粉，都觉得肉麻了。
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
「我們為什麼要慶祝國慶」及其他 (转载)
劉廼強
兩周前，有自稱是學聯的人來電話，請我出席他們舉辦的論壇，題目是「我們為什麼要慶祝國慶」。這無聊的問題也搞論壇，無非是要擺我上檯，以示平衡，給幾個反對派借題發揮，順便向我圍攻。我告訴對方：「你慶祝國慶與否是你的事，毋須我來說服你。」
這還不簡單嗎？你認不認這個國家？認的話，慶祝國慶是順理成章的事情，根本就不存在為什麼。不認的話，你既不是國民，那更不存在為什麼要慶祝的問題。這個人認同問題只有自己才能解決；學聯這些大學生，大概被反共宣傳燒壞了腦袋，連這簡單的邏輯道理都沒有了。可悲啊！
從人民的角度來說，中國已經存在了幾千年，中華人民共和國只不過是由共產黨建立和執政至今的一個「朝代」。因此對某些人來說，慶祝國慶少不免是捧中共的場。抱這態度的人，有兩種選擇，一就不做中國人，「義不食周粟」。不過當時連一個村婦都懂得告訴於首陽山採薇而食的伯夷和叔齊：「此亦周之草木也。」二人因而羞憤絕食而死。你既不做中國人，就離開中國好了，請便。可笑的是他們有些人不但不會不吃「周粟」，還要按照本朝規矩，進入特區的建制當議員，一回說要「總辭」，但卻又大鑼大鼓的聲稱要於什麼都不變的情況之下，再花大筆錢再爭着選回去。這種「既要當婊子，又要貞節牌坊」的投機心態，連馮檢基都把它踢爆了。
或者你堅持做中國人，不過就是認為中共萬惡不赦。要是中共真的那麼邪惡的話，那麼作為頂天立地的中國人，就早該「弔民伐罪」，有種的造反吧。光不慶祝國慶，甚至糾集幾十人鬧一下，不痛不癢的，算什麼行動？可是根據權威性的國際民調如美國Pew Report等，中國政府在國內國外的民望都是挺高的，而且還是罕見的特高。我們可以很有根據的說：今天十三億人民過着百多年來未有的小康生活，絕大部份都支持這個政府。中共要否繼續執政，還輪不到你們這些既沒有納稅，連軍費都沒有付過，躲在香港這「化外」之地說風涼話的一小撮來決定。
不過話說回來，反對派中有些人動不動「中國殖民地」、「宗主國」、「不要做順民」等不離口。字裡行間，不光是不承認中央政府，對他們來說，連特區政府也只不過是傀儡，所以才搞抵制和破壞的動作。但在港英殖民地治下，他們卻曲意逢迎，從不反殖。他們壓根兒就不想做中國人，屁股不知坐在哪裡，現在只是扮作中國人，混在人群中起哄而已。
內地一些朋友對香港的印象特別不好，他們打開香港報紙，天天都是罪案，香港的電影滿街都是黑社會，打打殺殺的，甚至害怕來香港。我告訴他們，香港是全世界最安全的城市之一，半夜三更一個人在路上走沒問題，他們老是不相信。同樣道理，報章上一兩件不好的事情，就能說整個中國都不好了嗎？我們不少香港人認為內地的食品絕不安全，但是為什麼國人的平均壽命卻年年上升？如果官員只曉貪污和玩女人，那麼誰來幹事情？過去三十年每年平均近一成的超高速經濟增長是怎樣來的？還有，我們對於內地的負面消息是從哪裡來的？還不是大部份來自中共黨有的媒體和通訊社嗎？它們能天天這樣發放負面新聞，本身就已經說明了不少事情了。中國真的是有些人所說那麼不堪嗎？
有些人經常說：我愛中國的山川文化，神州上天，我愛；武警打人，我不愛。這是把自己看作是局外人的隔岸觀火態度，你看戲，對劇情和明星可以這樣；你做加拿大人也可以對中國抱這樣的態度。但你愛一個人，總不能愛她的頭，腳卻不愛；愛她笑，卻不愛她哭的。香港已經回歸祖國，作為中國人，愛是真刀真槍，劍及履及的。愛國，就是愛一個有血有肉，有好有壞的中華人民共和國。
最近發生了烏魯木齊武警打香港記者事件。一般來說，動用暴力，任何人打任何人都不對。這點大家都承認了，特首、特區政府和中聯辦都反映了香港市民的感受，後者還向有關記者送了水果籃以示關懷；人大政協紛紛出面譴責，並作出跟進。但我們的反對派卻一定要乘機把它搞大，還要以此號召國慶日上街。
這裡奉勸反對派要適可而止，要知道任何合理的事情做得過了份，便會成為不合理，甚至荒謬，會造成反效果。更何況全世界即使是西方重人權的國家，在處理暴動時，都不時出現打記者的事件。這是很難完全避免的事情，更不說內地和香港的文化差異，以及偏遠地區官員的質素和經驗，對什麼是適當暴力，什麼是合法採訪的不同理解了。全世界類似的事情，最後還不是大事化小，小事化了。有人借題發揮，藉此來上綱上領，反中反共，不但在香港不會得到廣泛的支持，更會誤導內地同胞感覺這是香港的整體反應，因而對香港表示反感，最後弄到我們每一個人都吃虧。
於是又有一些人說：我愛國，但我不愛共產黨，你不能逼我愛這個黨。在香港，從來都沒有鼓吹過要愛國愛黨，更沒有這一要求。事實上，在內地也絕少聽人這樣說。內地人真的愛黨的話，很多已經參加了共產黨了，但今天中共黨員也只有七千來萬而已。把「愛國愛港」編成「愛國愛黨」之說，純粹是插贓誣衊。現在有些人更在香港搞猜「誰是共產黨員」遊戲，煽起一股「幹部治港」的「紅色恐怖」，加深香港內部的撕裂，和特區與中央之間的無謂猜疑，更加無聊和具破壞性。
我們香港一般老百姓，對共產黨要抱什麼態度？首先，香港是中華人民共和國的特別行政區。這是需要我們面對的憲制事實，香港是在這憲制框架之下運作的。再說，這框架並非強加於我們身上，是經過前所未有的六年廣泛諮詢，三上三下，和經過港人參與的基本法委員會通過的。這框架最根本的一條，是在一國之下，設置特別行政區。「兩制」是在「一國」即中華人民共和國之下的；有「一國」才有「兩制」。而跟據憲法，中華人民共和國的執政黨就是共產黨。
純粹邏輯的推論，承認「兩制」就得承認「一國」，也就得承認共產黨的執政地位。愛不愛這個黨是感情問題，承認不承認它的地位和權威，是憲法問題，兩者絕對不能混淆。所以，我們在香港，只要我們還承認自己是中國人，慶祝國慶是理所當然的事；而無可避免地，這也等於承認中共的執政地位，憲制是如此，事實是如此，跟你愛不愛它無關，承認這憲制和事實就是。
Link:
http://www.strongwind.com.hk/article.aspx?id=11651
兩周前，有自稱是學聯的人來電話，請我出席他們舉辦的論壇，題目是「我們為什麼要慶祝國慶」。這無聊的問題也搞論壇，無非是要擺我上檯，以示平衡，給幾個反對派借題發揮，順便向我圍攻。我告訴對方：「你慶祝國慶與否是你的事，毋須我來說服你。」
這還不簡單嗎？你認不認這個國家？認的話，慶祝國慶是順理成章的事情，根本就不存在為什麼。不認的話，你既不是國民，那更不存在為什麼要慶祝的問題。這個人認同問題只有自己才能解決；學聯這些大學生，大概被反共宣傳燒壞了腦袋，連這簡單的邏輯道理都沒有了。可悲啊！
從人民的角度來說，中國已經存在了幾千年，中華人民共和國只不過是由共產黨建立和執政至今的一個「朝代」。因此對某些人來說，慶祝國慶少不免是捧中共的場。抱這態度的人，有兩種選擇，一就不做中國人，「義不食周粟」。不過當時連一個村婦都懂得告訴於首陽山採薇而食的伯夷和叔齊：「此亦周之草木也。」二人因而羞憤絕食而死。你既不做中國人，就離開中國好了，請便。可笑的是他們有些人不但不會不吃「周粟」，還要按照本朝規矩，進入特區的建制當議員，一回說要「總辭」，但卻又大鑼大鼓的聲稱要於什麼都不變的情況之下，再花大筆錢再爭着選回去。這種「既要當婊子，又要貞節牌坊」的投機心態，連馮檢基都把它踢爆了。
或者你堅持做中國人，不過就是認為中共萬惡不赦。要是中共真的那麼邪惡的話，那麼作為頂天立地的中國人，就早該「弔民伐罪」，有種的造反吧。光不慶祝國慶，甚至糾集幾十人鬧一下，不痛不癢的，算什麼行動？可是根據權威性的國際民調如美國Pew Report等，中國政府在國內國外的民望都是挺高的，而且還是罕見的特高。我們可以很有根據的說：今天十三億人民過着百多年來未有的小康生活，絕大部份都支持這個政府。中共要否繼續執政，還輪不到你們這些既沒有納稅，連軍費都沒有付過，躲在香港這「化外」之地說風涼話的一小撮來決定。
不過話說回來，反對派中有些人動不動「中國殖民地」、「宗主國」、「不要做順民」等不離口。字裡行間，不光是不承認中央政府，對他們來說，連特區政府也只不過是傀儡，所以才搞抵制和破壞的動作。但在港英殖民地治下，他們卻曲意逢迎，從不反殖。他們壓根兒就不想做中國人，屁股不知坐在哪裡，現在只是扮作中國人，混在人群中起哄而已。
內地一些朋友對香港的印象特別不好，他們打開香港報紙，天天都是罪案，香港的電影滿街都是黑社會，打打殺殺的，甚至害怕來香港。我告訴他們，香港是全世界最安全的城市之一，半夜三更一個人在路上走沒問題，他們老是不相信。同樣道理，報章上一兩件不好的事情，就能說整個中國都不好了嗎？我們不少香港人認為內地的食品絕不安全，但是為什麼國人的平均壽命卻年年上升？如果官員只曉貪污和玩女人，那麼誰來幹事情？過去三十年每年平均近一成的超高速經濟增長是怎樣來的？還有，我們對於內地的負面消息是從哪裡來的？還不是大部份來自中共黨有的媒體和通訊社嗎？它們能天天這樣發放負面新聞，本身就已經說明了不少事情了。中國真的是有些人所說那麼不堪嗎？
有些人經常說：我愛中國的山川文化，神州上天，我愛；武警打人，我不愛。這是把自己看作是局外人的隔岸觀火態度，你看戲，對劇情和明星可以這樣；你做加拿大人也可以對中國抱這樣的態度。但你愛一個人，總不能愛她的頭，腳卻不愛；愛她笑，卻不愛她哭的。香港已經回歸祖國，作為中國人，愛是真刀真槍，劍及履及的。愛國，就是愛一個有血有肉，有好有壞的中華人民共和國。
最近發生了烏魯木齊武警打香港記者事件。一般來說，動用暴力，任何人打任何人都不對。這點大家都承認了，特首、特區政府和中聯辦都反映了香港市民的感受，後者還向有關記者送了水果籃以示關懷；人大政協紛紛出面譴責，並作出跟進。但我們的反對派卻一定要乘機把它搞大，還要以此號召國慶日上街。
這裡奉勸反對派要適可而止，要知道任何合理的事情做得過了份，便會成為不合理，甚至荒謬，會造成反效果。更何況全世界即使是西方重人權的國家，在處理暴動時，都不時出現打記者的事件。這是很難完全避免的事情，更不說內地和香港的文化差異，以及偏遠地區官員的質素和經驗，對什麼是適當暴力，什麼是合法採訪的不同理解了。全世界類似的事情，最後還不是大事化小，小事化了。有人借題發揮，藉此來上綱上領，反中反共，不但在香港不會得到廣泛的支持，更會誤導內地同胞感覺這是香港的整體反應，因而對香港表示反感，最後弄到我們每一個人都吃虧。
於是又有一些人說：我愛國，但我不愛共產黨，你不能逼我愛這個黨。在香港，從來都沒有鼓吹過要愛國愛黨，更沒有這一要求。事實上，在內地也絕少聽人這樣說。內地人真的愛黨的話，很多已經參加了共產黨了，但今天中共黨員也只有七千來萬而已。把「愛國愛港」編成「愛國愛黨」之說，純粹是插贓誣衊。現在有些人更在香港搞猜「誰是共產黨員」遊戲，煽起一股「幹部治港」的「紅色恐怖」，加深香港內部的撕裂，和特區與中央之間的無謂猜疑，更加無聊和具破壞性。
我們香港一般老百姓，對共產黨要抱什麼態度？首先，香港是中華人民共和國的特別行政區。這是需要我們面對的憲制事實，香港是在這憲制框架之下運作的。再說，這框架並非強加於我們身上，是經過前所未有的六年廣泛諮詢，三上三下，和經過港人參與的基本法委員會通過的。這框架最根本的一條，是在一國之下，設置特別行政區。「兩制」是在「一國」即中華人民共和國之下的；有「一國」才有「兩制」。而跟據憲法，中華人民共和國的執政黨就是共產黨。
純粹邏輯的推論，承認「兩制」就得承認「一國」，也就得承認共產黨的執政地位。愛不愛這個黨是感情問題，承認不承認它的地位和權威，是憲法問題，兩者絕對不能混淆。所以，我們在香港，只要我們還承認自己是中國人，慶祝國慶是理所當然的事；而無可避免地，這也等於承認中共的執政地位，憲制是如此，事實是如此，跟你愛不愛它無關，承認這憲制和事實就是。
Link:
http://www.strongwind.com.hk/article.aspx?id=11651
Monday, September 21, 2009
柴静演讲稿《身边的人》
十年前在从拉萨飞回北京的飞机上，我的身边坐了一个50多岁的女人，她是30年前去援藏的，这是她第一次因为治病要离开拉萨（口误成北京）。下了飞机下很大的雨，我把她送到了北京一个旅店里，过了一个星期我去看她，她说她的病已经确诊了，是胃癌晚期，然后她指了一下床头有一个箱子，她说如果我回不去的话，你帮我保存这个。这是她30年当中走遍西藏各地，和各种人：官员、汉人、喇叭、三陪女交谈的记录。她没有任何职业身份，也知道这些东西不能发表，她只是说，一百年之后，如果有人看到的话，会知道今天的西藏发生了什么。这个人姓雄，拉萨一中的女教师。
五年前，我采访了一个人，这个人在火车上买了一瓶1.5元的水，然后他问列车员要发票，列车员乐了，说我们火车上自古就没有发票。这个人就把铁道部告上了法庭。他说人们在强大的力量面前总是选择服从，但是今天如果我们放弃了1.5元的发票，明天我们就可能被迫放弃我们的土地权、财产权和生命的安全。权力如果不用来争取的话，权力就只是一张纸。他后来赢了一场官司，我以为他会和铁道部结下“梁子”，结果他上了火车之后，在餐车要了一份饭，列车长亲自把这个饭菜端到他面前说，“您是现在要发票还是吃完以后我再给您送过来？”我问他，你靠什么赢得尊重？他说我靠为我的权力所做的斗争。这个人叫郝劲松，34岁的律师。
去年我认识一个人，我们在一起吃饭，这个60多的男人说起来丰台区一所民工小学被拆迁的事，他说所有的孩子靠在墙上哭。说到这儿的时候，他也动感情了，他从裤兜里面掏出一块皱皱巴巴的蓝布手绢，擦擦眼鼻，这个人18岁的时候当大队的出纳，后来当教授，当官员，他说他所有做这些事的目的只是为了想给农民做一点事。他在我的采访中说到，征地问题给农民的不是价格，只是补偿，这个分配机制极不合理，这个问题的根源不仅出在土地管理法，还出在1982年的宪法修正案。在审这个节目的时候，我的领导说了一句话，这个人就说的再尖锐，我们也能播。我说为什么？他说因为他特别真诚。这个人叫陈锡文，中央财经领导小组办公室主任。
七年前，我问过一个老人，我说你的一生已经有过很多挫折，你靠什么保持你年轻时候的情怀，他跟我讲有一年他去河北视察，没有走当地安排的路线，在路边发现了一个老农民，旁边放着一副棺材，他下车去看，那个老农民说因为太穷了，没钱治病，就把自己的棺材板拿出来卖，这个老人就给了他500块钱拿回家。他说我讲这个故事给你听，是要告诉你，中国大地上的事情是无穷无尽的，不要在乎一时的得失，要执着。这个人叫温家宝，中华人民共和国总理。
一个国家是由一个个具体的人构成的，它由这些人创造并且决定，
只有一个国家能够拥有那些寻求真理的人，
能够独立思考的人，
能够记录真实的人，
能够不计利害为这些片土地付出的人，
能够捍卫自己宪法权力的人，
能够知道世界并不完美，但仍然不言法理、不言放弃的人，
只有一个国家拥有这样的头脑和灵魂，我们才能说我们为祖国骄傲，
只有一个国家能够尊重这样的头脑和灵魂，我们才能说，我们有信心让明天更好
五年前，我采访了一个人，这个人在火车上买了一瓶1.5元的水，然后他问列车员要发票，列车员乐了，说我们火车上自古就没有发票。这个人就把铁道部告上了法庭。他说人们在强大的力量面前总是选择服从，但是今天如果我们放弃了1.5元的发票，明天我们就可能被迫放弃我们的土地权、财产权和生命的安全。权力如果不用来争取的话，权力就只是一张纸。他后来赢了一场官司，我以为他会和铁道部结下“梁子”，结果他上了火车之后，在餐车要了一份饭，列车长亲自把这个饭菜端到他面前说，“您是现在要发票还是吃完以后我再给您送过来？”我问他，你靠什么赢得尊重？他说我靠为我的权力所做的斗争。这个人叫郝劲松，34岁的律师。
去年我认识一个人，我们在一起吃饭，这个60多的男人说起来丰台区一所民工小学被拆迁的事，他说所有的孩子靠在墙上哭。说到这儿的时候，他也动感情了，他从裤兜里面掏出一块皱皱巴巴的蓝布手绢，擦擦眼鼻，这个人18岁的时候当大队的出纳，后来当教授，当官员，他说他所有做这些事的目的只是为了想给农民做一点事。他在我的采访中说到，征地问题给农民的不是价格，只是补偿，这个分配机制极不合理，这个问题的根源不仅出在土地管理法，还出在1982年的宪法修正案。在审这个节目的时候，我的领导说了一句话，这个人就说的再尖锐，我们也能播。我说为什么？他说因为他特别真诚。这个人叫陈锡文，中央财经领导小组办公室主任。
七年前，我问过一个老人，我说你的一生已经有过很多挫折，你靠什么保持你年轻时候的情怀，他跟我讲有一年他去河北视察，没有走当地安排的路线，在路边发现了一个老农民，旁边放着一副棺材，他下车去看，那个老农民说因为太穷了，没钱治病，就把自己的棺材板拿出来卖，这个老人就给了他500块钱拿回家。他说我讲这个故事给你听，是要告诉你，中国大地上的事情是无穷无尽的，不要在乎一时的得失，要执着。这个人叫温家宝，中华人民共和国总理。
一个国家是由一个个具体的人构成的，它由这些人创造并且决定，
只有一个国家能够拥有那些寻求真理的人，
能够独立思考的人，
能够记录真实的人，
能够不计利害为这些片土地付出的人，
能够捍卫自己宪法权力的人，
能够知道世界并不完美，但仍然不言法理、不言放弃的人，
只有一个国家拥有这样的头脑和灵魂，我们才能说我们为祖国骄傲，
只有一个国家能够尊重这样的头脑和灵魂，我们才能说，我们有信心让明天更好
Thursday, September 17, 2009
悬崖边的金鱼公主
今天和MIKE去看宫崎峻的Ponyo，悬崖边的金鱼公主。整个电影院就8个人，一对GAY，一对年轻男女，还有一对母子，我们在售票处听到这个母亲在问售票员有什么电影推荐，我们就上前力荐这部，MIKE说他已经看过了，现在要再看一遍，保证他们不会后悔。
电影很好看，有宫崎峻一贯的纯真风格，但显然不是他亲自主笔画的，人物形象依然可爱，但景物画面不如他的其他作品那么丰富，线条比较简单，光影效果也比较平面。也许是因为这部电影更多是给孩子看的吧。
故事很简单，一个爱冒险的金鱼公主有一天偷偷溜上海面时险些被鱼网捕获，幸好让一个小男孩救了，他精心呵护这条有着神气魔力的小金鱼，但小金鱼还是被她的巫师爸爸带回了大海，后来小金鱼为了来找小男孩，用魔力变成了一个有着红色头发身穿红裙子的小女孩。影片象其他宫崎峻的电影一样贯穿着对人类与环境关系的思考，但显然宫崎峻不想让这个成为电影的主题。也有人说金鱼公主和小男孩之间的爱因为两个小孩年龄太小而显得不够令人信服，但我觉得宫崎峻并不是试图讲一个公主与王子的爱情故事，而是通过小孩之间纯真的感情讲述人与自然的相互依赖，人与人的相互依赖，相互关怀。
Monday, September 14, 2009
Roger Federer's Best Shot in Life
From NY Times:
To sum up the essential for readers who prefer their news in abbreviated form to suit their cellphone screens: Juan Martín del Potro won his semifinal against Rafael Nadal more convincingly, but Roger Federer won his semifinal more stylishly, producing a between-the-legs dazzler of a passing shot in the final game against Novak Djokovic.
To sum up the essential for readers who prefer their news in abbreviated form to suit their cellphone screens: Juan Martín del Potro won his semifinal against Rafael Nadal more convincingly, but Roger Federer won his semifinal more stylishly, producing a between-the-legs dazzler of a passing shot in the final game against Novak Djokovic.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Jewelry Box
我的公公喜欢做木匠，他家里有很多家具都是他亲手做的，我们家里也有一些书架是他的手艺。最近公公做了一个首饰盒给我，真的很感动，因为他上了年纪，手会发抖，这个小巧精美的首饰盒一定要费他不少精力吧。
我跟Mike说，你得给我买首饰。
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
行走在美网(转载)
新浪上一个人在美网的博客，看见别人夸FF，我就忍不住呀:
如果大家不介意的话我今天来做一个费德勒专辑。看惯了场上的费德勒，我想说点场下的费德勒。
不知道是不是费德勒场上的扑克脸影响了人们对他的印象，不过圈子里的人都知道，费德勒是最调皮的球员之一。有瑞士记者跟我说起他和费德勒年初在卡塔尔的一次交流。当他说到自己看的足球转播时，费德勒突然用异常兴奋的语气说起自己怎么看的直播，怎么兴奋。他还跟我比划着费德勒当时的神情，说他说话的时候就跟个孩子一样，让这位熟识费德勒的瑞士记者着实吃了一惊。有位球员透露，当年他在罗马看到费德勒（他是世界第一的时候），看到他穿着一件T恤，上面写着数字“2”。他跟费德勒说，数字错了，应该是“1”（指世界第一）。费德勒笑着跟他说，在土地上这个数字没错。
长期处于世界第一的位置，你很难想象费德勒一直以来平易近人的程度。有记者跟我说起球员，都说当他们进入世界前十以后都变了，几乎没有一个例外，但是费德勒例外，他是一个奇怪的现象，他真的是一个好人，并不仅仅在镜头前做做样子而已，可能因为他很“瑞士”。费德勒应该是给球迷签名最多的球员之一，而且他在签名时不像大多数人那样签了名就好，或者说就专注于签名，球迷跟他说话他会不慌不忙的回应。每一次处于混乱的状态下，你很难想象费德勒身处其中，还能够笑，甚至和球迷开玩笑，虽然他周围如果没有保安的话，真的是寸步难行。你看到了会觉得他很可怜。这么多要签名的手伸到他面前，他拿起东西签完之后还能认得他拿的是哪只手上的东西，然后还给正确的人。有球迷要和他合影，这么一大堆人在身边，球迷自己没办法拍照，于是他会拿起球迷的相机，伸长一只手臂，帮助球迷和自己照相。很多球迷会以为这些都是理所当然的，因为很多人都说费德勒对球迷很好，于是他每次就都应该这么做。但是作为费德勒这样地位的人来说，他大可不必这么做，因为不这么做他同样可以赢得赞助商的青睐，赚很多钱和眼球。
他会跟所有球员说话打招呼，无论你的排名是什么。但是他同样也顶着一个巨大的光环。辛辛那提的时候，有一个记者在博客中写了自己在工作人员餐厅看到的一幕。那时他在那里吃饭，而在那里吃饭的都是球员，或是记者，全部都是见惯了明星的人。突然一下子，餐厅里安静下来。这位记者抬头环顾四周，原来费德勒正好走过。所有的人突然都停了下来，朝他望去。然后还有人鼓掌。这位记者为眼前的景象感到震惊。费德勒的影响力，可能比你想象的还要大。这和他温和的性格截然相反，却完全不冲突。
而有时候他感情上的脆弱让记者们也不得不同情。今年澳网决赛后的发布会，费德勒红着眼睛进来，记者们都不忍心提问题，稍微问了两句就放他走了。结束后，有很多记者走出房间的时候很大声用非常诚恳的语气对费德勒说，谢谢你，罗杰。而费德勒的情绪明显还没有恢复过来，但是他仍然记得说一句，没关系。很轻很柔，很费德勒。很难不让人同情。我从来没听过任何记者说过他任何负面的话，这也算是一大奇迹。
所谓人以群聚，费德勒周围最亲近的人也都和他一样。他妈妈会在比赛的外场和他的球迷聊天聊上一个小时，告诉球迷们费德勒小时候晕船然后狂吐一个小时这样的故事。他父母和经纪人还有教练，看到熟悉的球迷都会主动打招呼，会主动送东西，比如签名照片，别针，甚至帽子之类的东西。
无论是职业生涯的成就还是个人的私生活，费德勒都完美到几乎让人发笑的地步。人太完美一定会招人嫉妒，但是人们对于费德勒却都是衷心的为他高兴，为他祝福。你不得不说做人做到这个份上，真的很圆滑，很本事。而费德勒强就强在他所有的圆滑和本事全部一点都不着痕迹。或者这样说，如果你真的有一颗善良的心，你会得到回报。
说了这么多，你可以笑费德勒不知道弗洛伊德是谁，但是世界那么多人知道弗洛伊德，而网球打到像费德勒这么好的，大概一百年找不出一个。一个爱好网球的人，我很难想象会不喜欢看费德勒打球。当然这也只是我的个人意见。你大可以表示不赞同。
我写费德勒的这些，并不表示其他球员没有他做得好。只不过，作为一个和老虎、舒马赫、乔丹齐名的世界级大明星，费德勒有点不那么典型。
说到底，他其实只是一个极其热爱网球的打球人而已。我有时这么感觉，费德勒只要可以打网球，他就觉得很幸福了。
Link: http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_61e609630100ernz.html
如果大家不介意的话我今天来做一个费德勒专辑。看惯了场上的费德勒，我想说点场下的费德勒。
不知道是不是费德勒场上的扑克脸影响了人们对他的印象，不过圈子里的人都知道，费德勒是最调皮的球员之一。有瑞士记者跟我说起他和费德勒年初在卡塔尔的一次交流。当他说到自己看的足球转播时，费德勒突然用异常兴奋的语气说起自己怎么看的直播，怎么兴奋。他还跟我比划着费德勒当时的神情，说他说话的时候就跟个孩子一样，让这位熟识费德勒的瑞士记者着实吃了一惊。有位球员透露，当年他在罗马看到费德勒（他是世界第一的时候），看到他穿着一件T恤，上面写着数字“2”。他跟费德勒说，数字错了，应该是“1”（指世界第一）。费德勒笑着跟他说，在土地上这个数字没错。
长期处于世界第一的位置，你很难想象费德勒一直以来平易近人的程度。有记者跟我说起球员，都说当他们进入世界前十以后都变了，几乎没有一个例外，但是费德勒例外，他是一个奇怪的现象，他真的是一个好人，并不仅仅在镜头前做做样子而已，可能因为他很“瑞士”。费德勒应该是给球迷签名最多的球员之一，而且他在签名时不像大多数人那样签了名就好，或者说就专注于签名，球迷跟他说话他会不慌不忙的回应。每一次处于混乱的状态下，你很难想象费德勒身处其中，还能够笑，甚至和球迷开玩笑，虽然他周围如果没有保安的话，真的是寸步难行。你看到了会觉得他很可怜。这么多要签名的手伸到他面前，他拿起东西签完之后还能认得他拿的是哪只手上的东西，然后还给正确的人。有球迷要和他合影，这么一大堆人在身边，球迷自己没办法拍照，于是他会拿起球迷的相机，伸长一只手臂，帮助球迷和自己照相。很多球迷会以为这些都是理所当然的，因为很多人都说费德勒对球迷很好，于是他每次就都应该这么做。但是作为费德勒这样地位的人来说，他大可不必这么做，因为不这么做他同样可以赢得赞助商的青睐，赚很多钱和眼球。
他会跟所有球员说话打招呼，无论你的排名是什么。但是他同样也顶着一个巨大的光环。辛辛那提的时候，有一个记者在博客中写了自己在工作人员餐厅看到的一幕。那时他在那里吃饭，而在那里吃饭的都是球员，或是记者，全部都是见惯了明星的人。突然一下子，餐厅里安静下来。这位记者抬头环顾四周，原来费德勒正好走过。所有的人突然都停了下来，朝他望去。然后还有人鼓掌。这位记者为眼前的景象感到震惊。费德勒的影响力，可能比你想象的还要大。这和他温和的性格截然相反，却完全不冲突。
而有时候他感情上的脆弱让记者们也不得不同情。今年澳网决赛后的发布会，费德勒红着眼睛进来，记者们都不忍心提问题，稍微问了两句就放他走了。结束后，有很多记者走出房间的时候很大声用非常诚恳的语气对费德勒说，谢谢你，罗杰。而费德勒的情绪明显还没有恢复过来，但是他仍然记得说一句，没关系。很轻很柔，很费德勒。很难不让人同情。我从来没听过任何记者说过他任何负面的话，这也算是一大奇迹。
所谓人以群聚，费德勒周围最亲近的人也都和他一样。他妈妈会在比赛的外场和他的球迷聊天聊上一个小时，告诉球迷们费德勒小时候晕船然后狂吐一个小时这样的故事。他父母和经纪人还有教练，看到熟悉的球迷都会主动打招呼，会主动送东西，比如签名照片，别针，甚至帽子之类的东西。
无论是职业生涯的成就还是个人的私生活，费德勒都完美到几乎让人发笑的地步。人太完美一定会招人嫉妒，但是人们对于费德勒却都是衷心的为他高兴，为他祝福。你不得不说做人做到这个份上，真的很圆滑，很本事。而费德勒强就强在他所有的圆滑和本事全部一点都不着痕迹。或者这样说，如果你真的有一颗善良的心，你会得到回报。
说了这么多，你可以笑费德勒不知道弗洛伊德是谁，但是世界那么多人知道弗洛伊德，而网球打到像费德勒这么好的，大概一百年找不出一个。一个爱好网球的人，我很难想象会不喜欢看费德勒打球。当然这也只是我的个人意见。你大可以表示不赞同。
我写费德勒的这些，并不表示其他球员没有他做得好。只不过，作为一个和老虎、舒马赫、乔丹齐名的世界级大明星，费德勒有点不那么典型。
说到底，他其实只是一个极其热爱网球的打球人而已。我有时这么感觉，费德勒只要可以打网球，他就觉得很幸福了。
Link: http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_61e609630100ernz.html
坐在马桶上洗澡
国内媒体报道，上海某开发商最近推出以超小户型为主的楼盘，最小户型只有22平方米；而西安出现的最小户型甚至不足13平方米，据说需要“坐在马桶上洗澡”。调查显示，半数以上的青年人认为，超小户型也算是实现了住房梦。
网上居然有人说，从13平米小户型中看到了“青年人越来越务实的消费需求”。
拜托，这不是什么“务实的”需求，而根本就是黑心的开发商和脑残的媒体合谋向口袋空空的年轻人脑子里硬要灌输再小也是自己的不“务实”的住房梦。
北京上海这样每年涌入数万就业者的大城市要解决年轻人住房需求的办法是提供价格适中的出租房。
在美国，不管是纽约、华盛顿和芝加哥这些大城市，还是中小城市，住房市场大多都是既有住户拥有产权的房子，又有专门物业公司提供的只供出租用的公寓，也有户主自己出租的自有住房，这种多元化产权拥有模式给年轻人提供了多种选择。
而在北京，如果你没钱买房，只能去租二手房，这些房子或者是户主买了更大的新房将旧房出租出来的，或者是户主为了投资而买来出租的新房，第一种多数房子比较旧，格局老式，但一般地段极佳，所以租金也不便宜，第二种，由于是新房，户主买来就是为了出租，租金至少要足够还月供，所以比第一种租金更贵。
缺乏价格适中的稳定的出租房源，媒体广告又天天都在宣扬“住房梦”，忽悠得年轻人动不动就想拥有自己的房子，就算“坐在马桶上洗澡”也行，而忽略了购买住房最根本的目的是什么，是圆梦?还是追求生活质量的提高?最后实现的恐怕是黑心开发商的梦吧。
网上居然有人说，从13平米小户型中看到了“青年人越来越务实的消费需求”。
拜托，这不是什么“务实的”需求，而根本就是黑心的开发商和脑残的媒体合谋向口袋空空的年轻人脑子里硬要灌输再小也是自己的不“务实”的住房梦。
北京上海这样每年涌入数万就业者的大城市要解决年轻人住房需求的办法是提供价格适中的出租房。
在美国，不管是纽约、华盛顿和芝加哥这些大城市，还是中小城市，住房市场大多都是既有住户拥有产权的房子，又有专门物业公司提供的只供出租用的公寓，也有户主自己出租的自有住房，这种多元化产权拥有模式给年轻人提供了多种选择。
而在北京，如果你没钱买房，只能去租二手房，这些房子或者是户主买了更大的新房将旧房出租出来的，或者是户主为了投资而买来出租的新房，第一种多数房子比较旧，格局老式，但一般地段极佳，所以租金也不便宜，第二种，由于是新房，户主买来就是为了出租，租金至少要足够还月供，所以比第一种租金更贵。
缺乏价格适中的稳定的出租房源，媒体广告又天天都在宣扬“住房梦”，忽悠得年轻人动不动就想拥有自己的房子，就算“坐在马桶上洗澡”也行，而忽略了购买住房最根本的目的是什么，是圆梦?还是追求生活质量的提高?最后实现的恐怕是黑心开发商的梦吧。
Monday, September 7, 2009
Lego
昨天《纽约时报》财经版上有一篇关于Lego的文章，写的很棒。Lego(乐高)是我的外甥毛豆小时候最喜欢的玩具，他房间的地上经常散布着数百个指甲盖大小五颜六色的Lego组合块，它们可以任意组合成你能想象出的任何东西，飞机，汽车，轮船，房子，还有各种面带微笑的小人。在这个充斥着电脑游戏、iPod和互联网的电子玩具时代，Lego这种积木式传统玩具的盛行真是一个奇迹。就在其他玩具制造商都在经济不景气下苦苦挣扎时，这家丹麦公司却有着两位数的销售额增长率。但是近几年来，Lego的产品正在悄悄发生变化，许多家长发现现在的Lego已经不是他们小时候玩的那种完全依靠想象的游戏了。从印第安纳•琼斯到“星球大战”中的达斯•维达，好莱坞电影的人物越来越多成为Lego的主题。这种变化反映了这家私营公司经营理念和战略的悄悄转变。
Lego现任CEO约尔根维克以前就职于咨询巨头麦肯锡公司，2004年执掌这家玩具公司时，公司亏损3.44亿美元。他明确地提出，Lego要想成功，业绩是关键，而不仅仅是以制造最好的玩具而荣。
Lego创建于1932年，它的名字丹麦语的意思就是“好好玩”。公司仍然由创始人克里斯蒂安森的家族拥有。
新CEO上任之后，开始实施一系列降低成本的举措，新产品开发时间从原来的长达数年缩短到现在的一年。Lego还把一些生产厂从丹麦比隆转移到了人工更便宜的中欧和墨西哥。但为了保证质量，它从来没有在中国制造玩具（faint,难道我们比墨西哥还不如?）。
上个月，Lego在北卡的康科德开了首家“概念店”，家长可以带孩子到店里举办生日聚会，参加由Lego搭建高手开办的课程。今年秋天还将在巴尔的摩附近再开一家这样的概念店。到今年年底，Lego在全球的零售店将从2007年的27家扩大到47家。
明年，Lego开发的首个棋盘游戏将在美国上市，还将推出新的网上虚拟现实系统Lego Universe，在这个虚拟世界里，孩子们可以扮演Lego游戏中的人物，并在电脑上用虚拟的组合块建造Lego玩具。Lego还在与时代华纳商谈拍电影，将是真人和动画结合的Lego主题电影。
尽管这些转变令坚持传统游戏理念的Lego铁杆迷感到失望，也让专家担心Lego可能会失去它长久以来与众不同的特色，但这种转变至少在短期给公司带来了效益。
去年，全美国玩具销售额下降了5%，去年的圣诞节更是创下全行业三十年来最差的节日销售业绩。然而，Lego在2008年的销售额却上升了18.7%。今年尽管全球经济衰退进一步恶化，Lego上半年的销售额却上升了23%。去年公司税前盈利3.55亿美元，今年上半年达到1.78亿美元。
这些数字相当惊人，因为你要知道，全球最大的两家玩具制造商，制造“芭比”娃娃的美泰玩具和制造变形金刚的孩之宝玩具今年的销售额全部下滑。
一位研究玩具行业23年的分析师说，他听到Lego的业绩时也觉得很震惊，“一套售价80美元的Lego怎么能比10快钱的变形金刚更好卖呢?”
这个问题的答案是多方面的，这里有运气，有勤奋，也有纯真的丧失。
Lego在十年前推出“星球大战”系列时曾有过犹豫，因为“战争”这个词会印在包装盒上，而公司对此一向都很敏感。今天，许多Lego最受欢迎的玩具都是跟电影中的特效和暴力有关的。
美国是Lego最大的市场，也是世界最大的玩具市场。在美国，“星球大战”和“印第安纳琼斯”主题的玩具是Lego去年销售额增长32%的原因之一。但心理学家却对这种玩具的畅销感到担忧。
纽约一位心理学家Johathan Sinowitz，他还是心理服务公司Diagnostics的创办人。他说Lego所失去的正是它与众不同的特色。
他说，“当你给小孩玩一种不是既定主题的玩具，他们可以发挥想象，想怎么玩就怎么玩。但你给他们玩印第安纳琼斯，他们就是在玩好来坞的想象力，而不是他们自己的。”
New York Times article link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/business/global/06lego.html
Sunday, September 6, 2009
解放路固原巷何大妈
新华社报道，新疆选派7000多名党员干部深入基层社区开展群众工作。且看这位基层的何大妈是怎么说的：
解放路固原巷居民何大妈说，工作队的到来让我感到党和政府的关怀就在身边，我们相信政府有能力处理好这件事情，我们的生活会恢复正常，民族关系一定会像以前一样亲如兄弟姊妹。
这位何大妈要是没有在记者的启发下能说出这么有水平的话，她应该够格当政府对外宣传办主任了。
另外，还学了一词儿，知道“开展群众工作”英文怎么说吗?
正确答案: solve public disputes
解放路固原巷居民何大妈说，工作队的到来让我感到党和政府的关怀就在身边，我们相信政府有能力处理好这件事情，我们的生活会恢复正常，民族关系一定会像以前一样亲如兄弟姊妹。
这位何大妈要是没有在记者的启发下能说出这么有水平的话，她应该够格当政府对外宣传办主任了。
另外，还学了一词儿，知道“开展群众工作”英文怎么说吗?
正确答案: solve public disputes
What is a "Station fire" ?
最近加州大火的报道中总是见"Station fire"这个词，办公室里同事讨论，不明白为什么叫这个名字，google到一个论坛上有专业人士的解释，原来这个词是消防专业用语，消防部门用来区分不同的火警等级以作为调配消防装备的准则。以下是他的解释：
Wildfires in California are managed by type:
A type 4 fire is called an "initial attack" fire, and is manageable with the first in responders functioning with a first or second alarm response, with little or no logistical and planning support. Type 4 fires should be suppressed within the first burning period, meaning they're out by the next day. The initial attack units carry all of what they need in the way of drinking water, hose, fuel, maps of the area, etc., so do not require much support.
A type 3 fire is called "extended attack", and results in burning beyond the first operational period. It is still manageable, usually, by the resources from the agency unit responsible for the fire, meaning within a USFS, BLM, or BIA Ranger District, a CalFIRE Ranger Unit, or a County Fire Department. There may be some logistical, information, and planning support, but not much.
A type 2 fire is managed by what is called a Type 2 team, a pre-designated group of commanders, operations, plans, logistics, finance, safety, information, and liaison people who respond to Type 2 incidents on a regular basis as a Team, and who work well together. A fire of this type will have gone past extended attack, requiring assistance from other agencies. These fires burn for several days, and usually require some kind of base camp facility to be set up in a nearby park or fairgrounds.
A type 1 fire, which is what the "Station" fire is, is the largest kind of natural (or man-made) disaster that we experience. Type 1 incidents include conflagrations like the "Station" fire, but they also include disasters of any kind: Hurricane Katrina and Iniki, the Northridge earthquake, even the Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11/2001, and the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, were managed as Type 1 incidents. Type 1 incidents are managed by Type 1 Teams (duh), sometimes multiple Type 1 teams operating on the same incident, which are used to address the complex array of geographical, logistical, political, financial, even cultural and natural resource, and other problems which are the result of these kinds of incidents. Type 1 incidents usually result in multiple base camps, a State and/or Federal disaster declaration, evacuations, and resources from around the entire region, even from around the nation, responding to assist. They usually run for weeks or months, and management teams (and the operational firefighters) rotate in and out, normally on a 2 or 3 week assignment.
这种分级制度相当于香港的“一级火警”、“二级火警”....的叫法。最高级的火警级别是“灾难级”，根据wikipedia:
災難級是於範圍廣闊的事件，或一連串同時發生之事件時發出的警報。而這一系列事件有跡象需長時間以全部資源參與，甚至或需要军队或其他單位協助。此警報只可由消防處處長指示之下，或由官階在區長級或以上之官員親自向處長要求後方可發出。
因此"Station fire"可以翻为“灾难级大火”。
Links:
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1254791
http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%89%E7%B4%9A%E7%81%AB%E8%AD%A6
Wildfires in California are managed by type:
A type 4 fire is called an "initial attack" fire, and is manageable with the first in responders functioning with a first or second alarm response, with little or no logistical and planning support. Type 4 fires should be suppressed within the first burning period, meaning they're out by the next day. The initial attack units carry all of what they need in the way of drinking water, hose, fuel, maps of the area, etc., so do not require much support.
A type 3 fire is called "extended attack", and results in burning beyond the first operational period. It is still manageable, usually, by the resources from the agency unit responsible for the fire, meaning within a USFS, BLM, or BIA Ranger District, a CalFIRE Ranger Unit, or a County Fire Department. There may be some logistical, information, and planning support, but not much.
A type 2 fire is managed by what is called a Type 2 team, a pre-designated group of commanders, operations, plans, logistics, finance, safety, information, and liaison people who respond to Type 2 incidents on a regular basis as a Team, and who work well together. A fire of this type will have gone past extended attack, requiring assistance from other agencies. These fires burn for several days, and usually require some kind of base camp facility to be set up in a nearby park or fairgrounds.
A type 1 fire, which is what the "Station" fire is, is the largest kind of natural (or man-made) disaster that we experience. Type 1 incidents include conflagrations like the "Station" fire, but they also include disasters of any kind: Hurricane Katrina and Iniki, the Northridge earthquake, even the Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11/2001, and the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, were managed as Type 1 incidents. Type 1 incidents are managed by Type 1 Teams (duh), sometimes multiple Type 1 teams operating on the same incident, which are used to address the complex array of geographical, logistical, political, financial, even cultural and natural resource, and other problems which are the result of these kinds of incidents. Type 1 incidents usually result in multiple base camps, a State and/or Federal disaster declaration, evacuations, and resources from around the entire region, even from around the nation, responding to assist. They usually run for weeks or months, and management teams (and the operational firefighters) rotate in and out, normally on a 2 or 3 week assignment.
这种分级制度相当于香港的“一级火警”、“二级火警”....的叫法。最高级的火警级别是“灾难级”，根据wikipedia:
災難級是於範圍廣闊的事件，或一連串同時發生之事件時發出的警報。而這一系列事件有跡象需長時間以全部資源參與，甚至或需要军队或其他單位協助。此警報只可由消防處處長指示之下，或由官階在區長級或以上之官員親自向處長要求後方可發出。
因此"Station fire"可以翻为“灾难级大火”。
Links:
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1254791
http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%89%E7%B4%9A%E7%81%AB%E8%AD%A6
Thursday, September 3, 2009
“Roger Federer is destroying my love life!”
先是在未名的网球版看到这篇，LOL之后觉的肯定不是罗迪克老婆写的，就算他的模特老婆再胸大无脑也不至于在美网之前这么暴料，老罗还不立马把她休了。然后放狗一搜，果然是一个网球博客上的讽刺文章，原博特意注明：
This SATIRE was created for the enjoyment of our blog readers and customers. We hope you read it in the spirit of fun in which it was created. Obviously the contents are 100% fiction.
下面就是这篇博，说实话，作为费粉，我是尊敬罗迪克的，我虽然不知道他心底有多么想在法拉胜打败费费以报温网之仇，但单凭他在以往赛后的新闻发布会上的表现来看，他是个慷慨磊落有啥说啥的人，我觉得这个博主损了点。
“Roger Federer is destroying my love life!”
I am sure many of your blog readers and tennis fans may not recognize me as the wife of Andy Roddick, but may know me as the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Covergirl. It’s weird, in spite of the exposure, I regularly attend tennis tournaments under the cloak of relative anonymity and not being recognized is puzzling to me. Why all the cameras and attention are obsessively focused on Mirka makes almost no sense. Afterall how many Sports Illustrated covers has she graced? It’s okay. Really. No jealousy here. I mean I dress modestly so I won’t need to worry about linespeople, ball boys, and horny old Australian broadcasters starring at my chest throughout the entirety of Andy’s match. One of these days I may spice it up. Perhaps at the US Open, who knows?
Anyway, Andy and I were married this past April after dating for a year. The prenup was favorable, so I figured, “what the heck…why not go for it?” Plus the guy’s not too shabby in the bedroom. The first few months of being newlyweds was AWESOME. I was showered with flowers, jewelry, exotic travel and a love life that exceeded all expectations. Then suddenly in early July my whole world changed.
After Andy’s heartbreaking loss to Federer in the Wimbledon final his mood darkened. He just wanted to be alone. He barely noticed me. I tried swimwear, lingerie, even going topless. Nothing worked. Within a week he became more obsessed than ever with Roger and the quest to defeat him. He upped his training to the point where he had no energy at the end of the day for me.
Then on July 24 a sudden renewed interest in me emerged. Andy was buoyed by news of the Federer twins birth. He sent a private text message to Roger congratulating him on the twins and even publicly congratulated him on his Twitter account. But privately he wanted to up the ante. He told me, “if Roger and Mirka can have twins, then we can do better. Brooklyn you better get ready because tonight we are making triplets!"
Suddenly, Andy the lover, transformed into Andy the beast. The love making became more physical than ever. I had never seen Andy work so hard. And good Lord, the sweat. I mean it was literally pouring off of him. The salt was stinging my eyes and the bedding was completely soaked. I have never witnessed anything like it. Sheets of perspiration began cascading off of the bed and forming salt-water pools capable of sustaining ocean life on the bedroom floor. And it would only get worse. Andy replaced our evening sessions once filled with wine and chocolates with electrolyte beverages and energy bars. Each night. Every night. All____Night____Long!!!!
He remains obsessed with the idea of defeating Roger on court and off the court. Each morning he asks me to take a pregnancy test. He wants triplets and is getting more and more demanding as his obsession grows. The positions are becoming increasingly insane. Not to mention the degree of difficulty is amplified because it’s so bleepin’ slippery. I am pretty damned sure Mirka never had to endure anything like this…nor would she be capable of a position that Andy calls “The Gimblestob” after the guy who supposedly created it. I hate to break the news to Andy, but Justin has never actually implemented “The Gimblestob” in real life…I guarantee it. Ouch!
The other day I told Andy “Absolutely NO!” to the idea of videotaping taping the “Quest for Triplets” so he could study the tapes and find areas to improve. I know the tapes would leak out via the internet and the unflattering semi-acrobatic moves required to perform “The Gimblestob” would torpedo my modeling career and surely land me with an open invitation to join Cirque du Soleil or worse, yet, Dancing with the Stars.
Then yesterday Andy asked if Larry Stefanki could watch us tonight and take some notes in lieu of videotaped instruction? WHAT!!?? My husband has officially lost it in a major league kind of way! I am glad the prenup is favorable to me, because I honestly do not know how much more I can take. I miss Andy the gentleman. This bizarre quest to top Roger at something has sucked all the romance out of our relationship. This is messed up!!
Roger Federer has brought all this upon me. Each night I now pray to God for Roger to be stricken with severe stomach cramps if Andy gets to face him at the US Open. Even with that the Swiss bastard would still find a way to win, wouldn’t he?
Doesn’t Andy realize I have no interest in birthing triplets at this point in my life? I am in agony. My life is spinning out of control. I am scared. Who would have thought 4 months ago that I would have to replace my lovely silk bedding with custom-made bedsheets comprised of genuine Sham-Wow material? And what will Andy say and do when he reads this editorial and realizes he never thought to ask me to stop taking the pill?
Original Blog Link:
http://ggtennis.wordpress.com/2009/08/25/guest-editorial-brooklyn-decker/
This SATIRE was created for the enjoyment of our blog readers and customers. We hope you read it in the spirit of fun in which it was created. Obviously the contents are 100% fiction.
下面就是这篇博，说实话，作为费粉，我是尊敬罗迪克的，我虽然不知道他心底有多么想在法拉胜打败费费以报温网之仇，但单凭他在以往赛后的新闻发布会上的表现来看，他是个慷慨磊落有啥说啥的人，我觉得这个博主损了点。
“Roger Federer is destroying my love life!”
I am sure many of your blog readers and tennis fans may not recognize me as the wife of Andy Roddick, but may know me as the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Covergirl. It’s weird, in spite of the exposure, I regularly attend tennis tournaments under the cloak of relative anonymity and not being recognized is puzzling to me. Why all the cameras and attention are obsessively focused on Mirka makes almost no sense. Afterall how many Sports Illustrated covers has she graced? It’s okay. Really. No jealousy here. I mean I dress modestly so I won’t need to worry about linespeople, ball boys, and horny old Australian broadcasters starring at my chest throughout the entirety of Andy’s match. One of these days I may spice it up. Perhaps at the US Open, who knows?
Anyway, Andy and I were married this past April after dating for a year. The prenup was favorable, so I figured, “what the heck…why not go for it?” Plus the guy’s not too shabby in the bedroom. The first few months of being newlyweds was AWESOME. I was showered with flowers, jewelry, exotic travel and a love life that exceeded all expectations. Then suddenly in early July my whole world changed.
After Andy’s heartbreaking loss to Federer in the Wimbledon final his mood darkened. He just wanted to be alone. He barely noticed me. I tried swimwear, lingerie, even going topless. Nothing worked. Within a week he became more obsessed than ever with Roger and the quest to defeat him. He upped his training to the point where he had no energy at the end of the day for me.
Then on July 24 a sudden renewed interest in me emerged. Andy was buoyed by news of the Federer twins birth. He sent a private text message to Roger congratulating him on the twins and even publicly congratulated him on his Twitter account. But privately he wanted to up the ante. He told me, “if Roger and Mirka can have twins, then we can do better. Brooklyn you better get ready because tonight we are making triplets!"
Suddenly, Andy the lover, transformed into Andy the beast. The love making became more physical than ever. I had never seen Andy work so hard. And good Lord, the sweat. I mean it was literally pouring off of him. The salt was stinging my eyes and the bedding was completely soaked. I have never witnessed anything like it. Sheets of perspiration began cascading off of the bed and forming salt-water pools capable of sustaining ocean life on the bedroom floor. And it would only get worse. Andy replaced our evening sessions once filled with wine and chocolates with electrolyte beverages and energy bars. Each night. Every night. All____Night____Long!!!!
He remains obsessed with the idea of defeating Roger on court and off the court. Each morning he asks me to take a pregnancy test. He wants triplets and is getting more and more demanding as his obsession grows. The positions are becoming increasingly insane. Not to mention the degree of difficulty is amplified because it’s so bleepin’ slippery. I am pretty damned sure Mirka never had to endure anything like this…nor would she be capable of a position that Andy calls “The Gimblestob” after the guy who supposedly created it. I hate to break the news to Andy, but Justin has never actually implemented “The Gimblestob” in real life…I guarantee it. Ouch!
The other day I told Andy “Absolutely NO!” to the idea of videotaping taping the “Quest for Triplets” so he could study the tapes and find areas to improve. I know the tapes would leak out via the internet and the unflattering semi-acrobatic moves required to perform “The Gimblestob” would torpedo my modeling career and surely land me with an open invitation to join Cirque du Soleil or worse, yet, Dancing with the Stars.
Then yesterday Andy asked if Larry Stefanki could watch us tonight and take some notes in lieu of videotaped instruction? WHAT!!?? My husband has officially lost it in a major league kind of way! I am glad the prenup is favorable to me, because I honestly do not know how much more I can take. I miss Andy the gentleman. This bizarre quest to top Roger at something has sucked all the romance out of our relationship. This is messed up!!
Roger Federer has brought all this upon me. Each night I now pray to God for Roger to be stricken with severe stomach cramps if Andy gets to face him at the US Open. Even with that the Swiss bastard would still find a way to win, wouldn’t he?
Doesn’t Andy realize I have no interest in birthing triplets at this point in my life? I am in agony. My life is spinning out of control. I am scared. Who would have thought 4 months ago that I would have to replace my lovely silk bedding with custom-made bedsheets comprised of genuine Sham-Wow material? And what will Andy say and do when he reads this editorial and realizes he never thought to ask me to stop taking the pill?
Original Blog Link:
http://ggtennis.wordpress.com/2009/08/25/guest-editorial-brooklyn-decker/
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
文明的巴黎人
今天《华尔街日报》上一篇文章特搞笑，讲的是法国巴黎专抓在公众场合小便的便衣警察。这个由88名警察组成的“不良行为稽查大队”抓的不光是在大街上撒尿的，还有乱仍垃圾的，未经允许散发传单的，还有遛狗不捡便便的。
据说在巴黎政府大力宣传下，巴黎人已经养成遛狗捡粪的习惯了，但当街撒尿仍旧习不改。市政工人每个月要清洗数万平米尿骚冲天的墙壁和人行道，但任何清洁剂都不管用，尿骚味道已经渗透进了这个浪漫之都的鹅卵石小路。
政府开始想用正确引导的方法，在大街小巷放置了400个公共卫生间，这些拥有最新高科技环保设计的公厕还非常体贴地设有天窗，想必是为了让人们依旧可以领略在大自然怀抱中尽情发泄的感觉。一位建筑师更是想出妙法，他设计了一种防尿墙，你要是对着墙撒尿，它就把尿冲你反射回来。这法子好像是管用。在巴黎“右岸”一条最受当街小便者欢迎的街道上安装了这种墙，设计师说他还经常跑那儿检查，真就没有人在那儿撒尿了，但政府目前没打算安装更多这种墙。
要是被稽查大队抓住，最高可以罚款450欧元，但不知为什么，明年罚款要降到最高35欧元。从数据上看，似乎稽查大队也没什么用，2007年开了1200张罚单，2008年上升到1800张，而今年上半年就已经有1100张了。
据说在巴黎政府大力宣传下，巴黎人已经养成遛狗捡粪的习惯了，但当街撒尿仍旧习不改。市政工人每个月要清洗数万平米尿骚冲天的墙壁和人行道，但任何清洁剂都不管用，尿骚味道已经渗透进了这个浪漫之都的鹅卵石小路。
政府开始想用正确引导的方法，在大街小巷放置了400个公共卫生间，这些拥有最新高科技环保设计的公厕还非常体贴地设有天窗，想必是为了让人们依旧可以领略在大自然怀抱中尽情发泄的感觉。一位建筑师更是想出妙法，他设计了一种防尿墙，你要是对着墙撒尿，它就把尿冲你反射回来。这法子好像是管用。在巴黎“右岸”一条最受当街小便者欢迎的街道上安装了这种墙，设计师说他还经常跑那儿检查，真就没有人在那儿撒尿了，但政府目前没打算安装更多这种墙。
要是被稽查大队抓住，最高可以罚款450欧元，但不知为什么，明年罚款要降到最高35欧元。从数据上看，似乎稽查大队也没什么用，2007年开了1200张罚单，2008年上升到1800张，而今年上半年就已经有1100张了。
September Horoscope For Libra
总而言之，九月是糟糕的一个月, according to Susan Miller.
http://astrologyzone.com/forecasts/monthly/libra_full.php
Highlights:
This will be a tough month.
September is not a time to buy anything expensive and you must promise me you won't buy anything electronic.
Mark the time from September 15 to 23 as very rough, when almost everyone you interact with will be feeling raw, and you may find your nerves jangled, too. Don't ask for favors, present ideas, or launch new projects this month - this week will be September at its worst.
September 17 will be the toughest of the month.
http://astrologyzone.com/forecasts/monthly/libra_full.php
Highlights:
This will be a tough month.
September is not a time to buy anything expensive and you must promise me you won't buy anything electronic.
Mark the time from September 15 to 23 as very rough, when almost everyone you interact with will be feeling raw, and you may find your nerves jangled, too. Don't ask for favors, present ideas, or launch new projects this month - this week will be September at its worst.
September 17 will be the toughest of the month.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
网球之王 时尚达人
一开始是低调的。当罗杰•费德勒在2006年温布尔登网球公开赛首次穿带有他名字首字母图案的衣服登场时，他穿了一件胸前口袋上绣有一个金色图章的外套接受了冠军奖杯。从远处看，那个图章可能很容易被误认为是某个俱乐部的徽章。实际上那个图章的确宣告他加入了一个俱乐部，一个仅有两名会员的俱乐部：费德勒是继老虎伍兹之后第二位耐克用运动员名字首字母作为营销手段的代言人。
到了2007年，这个金线刺绣的图案演变成了固定风格的大写字母，并且还扩展到了费德勒的运动鞋上。一年之后，新的首字母图案亮相温布尔登，一件象牙色开襟毛衣上绣着金色的字母，就像瑞士国徽那样以盾牌为边。
今年夏天，费德勒的首字母再度登场。这次字母更大，在照片中更醒目。而且到处都见它的踪迹：费德勒的鞋子，腰带扣，运动背包，外套，甚至包新球拍的塑料袋上都有。它也不再起到过去首字母的隐含作用--绣在主人衣服上以帮助佣人辨识是谁的衣服。对于一位着装风格和比赛风格都堪称网坛舞王“弗雷德•阿斯泰尔”的运动员来说--他轻盈的步伐，夜间比赛必穿黑色赛服，劳力士手表广告中身穿两扣西装挥拍发球的潇洒动作--三年前的首字母图案或许显得有些做秀，有些花哨，但现在已经升级为一个个人品牌营销之王。
费德勒的球迷们当然看在眼里，一些人还颇有不满。网球博客纷纷评论地不亦乐呼，给费德勒起别名“首字母人”，或者“首字母先生”，或者干脆叫“首字母”。费德勒在温布尔登史上第30次马拉松式5盘大战中击败安迪•罗迪克之后，他马上穿上一件印有金色首字母的白色外套，上面大大的“15”宣告着他打破桑普拉斯男子网球大满贯冠军总数的纪录。
一些人认为费德勒此举说的好听点是不够得体，难听点就是令人震惊的幸灾乐祸，简直是当众打罗迪克的耳光。而费德勒的粉丝却说，他完全有权这么做，就像橄榄球赢得超级碗冠军的球队立刻就有人提供给他们宣告胜利的T恤衫和球帽一样，并无可非议。
这么说也算公平，尽管过去围绕网球运动的绅士风度似乎令这种运动与众不同，不像其他运动那样充斥了球员之前的互相攻击谩骂。费德勒后来说，当时有人递给了他这件外套，他就穿上了，不过他还说，他在之前法网公开赛夺冠后穿了一件印有“14”的外套，但似乎根本没人在意。
Photo By Pete Fontaine, U.S. Presswire
纽约时报原文出处:
ttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/31/sports/tennis/31logo.html
到了2007年，这个金线刺绣的图案演变成了固定风格的大写字母，并且还扩展到了费德勒的运动鞋上。一年之后，新的首字母图案亮相温布尔登，一件象牙色开襟毛衣上绣着金色的字母，就像瑞士国徽那样以盾牌为边。
今年夏天，费德勒的首字母再度登场。这次字母更大，在照片中更醒目。而且到处都见它的踪迹：费德勒的鞋子，腰带扣，运动背包，外套，甚至包新球拍的塑料袋上都有。它也不再起到过去首字母的隐含作用--绣在主人衣服上以帮助佣人辨识是谁的衣服。对于一位着装风格和比赛风格都堪称网坛舞王“弗雷德•阿斯泰尔”的运动员来说--他轻盈的步伐，夜间比赛必穿黑色赛服，劳力士手表广告中身穿两扣西装挥拍发球的潇洒动作--三年前的首字母图案或许显得有些做秀，有些花哨，但现在已经升级为一个个人品牌营销之王。
费德勒的球迷们当然看在眼里，一些人还颇有不满。网球博客纷纷评论地不亦乐呼，给费德勒起别名“首字母人”，或者“首字母先生”，或者干脆叫“首字母”。费德勒在温布尔登史上第30次马拉松式5盘大战中击败安迪•罗迪克之后，他马上穿上一件印有金色首字母的白色外套，上面大大的“15”宣告着他打破桑普拉斯男子网球大满贯冠军总数的纪录。
一些人认为费德勒此举说的好听点是不够得体，难听点就是令人震惊的幸灾乐祸，简直是当众打罗迪克的耳光。而费德勒的粉丝却说，他完全有权这么做，就像橄榄球赢得超级碗冠军的球队立刻就有人提供给他们宣告胜利的T恤衫和球帽一样，并无可非议。
这么说也算公平，尽管过去围绕网球运动的绅士风度似乎令这种运动与众不同，不像其他运动那样充斥了球员之前的互相攻击谩骂。费德勒后来说，当时有人递给了他这件外套，他就穿上了，不过他还说，他在之前法网公开赛夺冠后穿了一件印有“14”的外套，但似乎根本没人在意。
Photo by Adrian Dennis/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
一些粉丝说，首字母一直就是费德勒自己的主意。而另一些人坚称，是耐克让费德勒这么做的。
“我听到这种说法有些吃惊，因为我不会因为别人告诉我穿什么就穿什么，别人告诉我做什么就做什么，”费德勒最近在瑞士接受采访时说，“我做任何事都是自己的决定。真的都是我自己说了算。”
首字母的主意最开始出现在费德勒2003年推出的香水品牌，香水的标识，RF-罗杰•费德勒，是当时米尔卡（现在费德勒的妻子）和她的父亲设计的。当时的首字母是草书式的。你要是知道它代表什么，你可以看出是一个R和一个F；你要是不知道，可能根本看不出来（首字母标记通常由三个字母组成，但因为费德勒没有中间名，显然就不能用这种方式）。
费德勒觉得这个主意不错，并向耐克建议开发一系列带有他首字母标识的产品。
“对我来说，我的球迷可以买一些和我有关的东西，这很重要，”他说，“就像在足球运动中，你可以买一件背上有球员名字的球衣，那很酷。” 他的初衷是带有首字母的物品可以给球迷一种关联感，就像一个球队的球衣一样，虽然网球并不是严格意义上的球队形式。
耐克全球网球服装设计总监珍尼特•露西纳说，从第一个拉尔夫•劳伦式的胸章开始，“耐克把这个概念与体育用品的性能相结合，使它的设计更现代，更简洁。”现在这些字母不再是刺绣上去的，而是激光打印上去的，因为这样看起来更现代，也更轻盈。
“现在的图案去掉了字母设计中常见的竖线条，只用横线条来区分两个字母，”国际设计咨询公司Pentagram纽约分公司合伙人迈克尔•贝鲁特说，“我认为这是个非常棒的平衡设计--衬线式字体的传统设计，搭配省略竖线条的现代视觉感，让你脑子里的眼睛来想象画面上没有显示的部分。”
贝鲁特说，费德勒的首字母“作为一个商标并没有什么特别之处，但它的风格以及运动造型的整体设计，我认为非常独特。”
“纽约洋基棒球队的标记‘NY’其实也是首字母，”他说，“但体育运动首字母设计通常更直接。费德勒的首字母创造的不仅仅是一个运动品牌，而是一个时尚品牌。”
这个F的字体是一个波多尼字体(Bodoni)的稍微变形，和它近似的迪多字体(Didot)是时尚杂志、乔治•阿玛尼和路易威登品牌商标所用的字体，这个字体本身有一种高端时尚感，”贝鲁特说，“再加上这种谜一样的书写方式，费德勒的首字母就带有一种高端设计的意味。”
在男子网坛，没有一位球员比费德勒对时尚更乐衷，也没有一位球员像他一样受到那么多关于着装的苛评。最近的案例就是：他在今年温布尔登入场时穿的一身白色套装，类似只有英国驻印度军官才会穿的军装。
“我觉得那件军装外套款式很特别，很酷，”他说，“我知道它可能看起来有点太咄咄逼人了，有人会非常喜欢，有人就会特别反感。但是也没那么糟糕。你不可能总是做好人，总是走中庸路线，就好像，好吧，我今年就再穿一次开襟毛衣吧。”
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
当然，引人注目的还有金色。金色是为了搭配温布尔登的奖杯。金色还是冠军奖牌的颜色。但金色也是大胆的时尚达人们炫耀金钱的颜色，对一位代言私人飞机广告的百万富翁来说，这个颜色却不是一个很好的选择。
“也许我在温布尔登用金色有点过了，”费德勒说，“可能对有些人来说，金色就有点好像，‘他是在炫耀。”他们认为金色太花哩呼哨，这并不是我的初衷。我选择金色是为了搭配奖杯。”
在耐克为费德勒设计的一系列首字母产品中，棒球帽和外套是公开发售的。尽管零售的吸引力好像不大，但耐克的一位发言人说市场的反应不错，但她拒绝透露销售数字。不像那些用一个图形为品牌标识的运动员产品系列，比如法国网球名将勒内•拉科斯特的“鳄鱼”商标或高尔夫传奇人物格雷格•诺曼的“大白鲨”，费德勒的首字母标志让他和穿带有这个标志的衣服的人之间没有一个中间地带。
“根本不知道这个鳄鱼代表什么的人也可以穿鳄鱼衬衫，他们在穿的时候也不会去想他们是在展示一个运动员的光辉业绩，”贝鲁特说。但对于费德勒，他的产品代表了他的形象：他就是品牌。
耐克在1996年（2000年重新修改）为老虎伍兹设计的首字母标示是一种比较严峻硬朗的半抽象几何图形，而且在产品上使用的并不像费德勒的那么多。一些人会在伍兹戴的棒球帽上认出他的首字母，但有的人从来都没有注意过。
但是费德勒和伍兹的相提并论一直就有，而且对费德勒来说也是好事。在费德勒在大满贯纪录排名榜上不断上升的同时，他与伍兹高调公开的友情也加强了他就是网球界的伍兹一说。两位体坛顶尖高手，均在各自的领域独孤求败，个中滋味只有对方能够体会。
Photo By Pete Fontaine, U.S. Presswire 怎样才能把一个连他的对手都没法不喜欢他的超级大好人和这个似乎那么迫切地想让自己不同于网坛其他选手并在他最大的对手恰恰在关键时刻因伤退赛从而成为有史以来最伟大球员的费德勒联系起来呢？
尽管费德勒想必真的是一位谦谦君子，但他也从来不缺乏自我肯定。一个被公认注定要青史留名的伟大球员，一种应该享受胜利的感觉，甚至当胜利触手可及却又失之交臂时，费德勒也从来没有自我否定--他最近一些声明似乎都在加强这个主题，当他的首字母越来越醒目，越来越无处不在时，也证实了自负已经在悄悄滋生。（费德勒在温布尔登赛后感言中说:“这是网球史上具有历史意义的一天，对我也是，我作为主要角色...）
与此同时，被许多名人称作在曼哈顿的家的卡莱尔酒店，已经将费德勒入住的套房以他的名字命名。作为向酒店所有VIP顾客提供的一项服务，枕头套上绣了他的首字母。
纽约时报原文出处:
ttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/31/sports/tennis/31logo.html
Sunday, August 30, 2009
半只烤鸡
华人上有人说:
到customer service兑换零钱,，正好碰上一个美国大妈在等经理。我还以为啥事，结果经理来了以后，大妈开口发话---给她的东西给错了。我瞥了一眼，大妈手上拿着的是一盒烤全鸡。当然，盒子显然已经拆过了。大妈就解释说，她要买的是peppermint口味的，盒子上的标签也是peppermint味道的，结果回家拆了一吃，是lemongrass味道的，所以拿来要求换。我一看，那鸡都吃了半只了。
我的回贴:
我缴着这也没啥不正常的呀，盒子上写的是peppermint，大妈回去一吃，嗯？怎么不对味涅？再吃一口，还是不对味呀，劳工，你缴着这是peppermint吗？劳工吃一口，好象是吧。大妈再吃一口，好象也有点象，再吃一口，不对，这揍不是peppermint呀。儿子你说涅？儿子吃了说吃不出来，大妈再吃一口，绝对不是，不行我得去找他们，就这么着半只鸡下去了。
然后有人以为我就是披了马甲的大妈。
到customer service兑换零钱,，正好碰上一个美国大妈在等经理。我还以为啥事，结果经理来了以后，大妈开口发话---给她的东西给错了。我瞥了一眼，大妈手上拿着的是一盒烤全鸡。当然，盒子显然已经拆过了。大妈就解释说，她要买的是peppermint口味的，盒子上的标签也是peppermint味道的，结果回家拆了一吃，是lemongrass味道的，所以拿来要求换。我一看，那鸡都吃了半只了。
我的回贴:
我缴着这也没啥不正常的呀，盒子上写的是peppermint，大妈回去一吃，嗯？怎么不对味涅？再吃一口，还是不对味呀，劳工，你缴着这是peppermint吗？劳工吃一口，好象是吧。大妈再吃一口，好象也有点象，再吃一口，不对，这揍不是peppermint呀。儿子你说涅？儿子吃了说吃不出来，大妈再吃一口，绝对不是，不行我得去找他们，就这么着半只鸡下去了。
然后有人以为我就是披了马甲的大妈。
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Little Mermaid
Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/37217398@N02/3680152412/
Craftster.org是我喜欢的网站之一，这是一个手工爱好者的论坛，经常能看到大师级的创作，有的则相当另类。尽管有的风格不是我能够欣赏的，但实在佩服每个人的创意，也经常能给我灵感。
这个美人鱼的刺绣作者说灵感来自30年代一本儿童书的插图，"The Enchanted Castle" written by Colleen Moore, illustrated by Marie A. Lawson。
但她的刺绣比原来的插图更有立体感，选择带有海浪花纹的淡蓝色背景布真是点题又和谐，还丰富了画面。窃以为如果用亮片或小珠子代替美人鱼头发上的水珠是不是更好呢？
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