Economic Theory Summer Camp
8 hours ago
Friday, May 27, 2005
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
他们去哪里了？
英国病人 @ 2005-03-16 00:56
每天晚上八九点钟下班如果从三环路的方向走，在兆龙饭店门前等绿灯的时候，总会有两个胡子拉喳、衣衫褴褛、看不出有多大年纪的人在车从当中行乞。每个出租司机都会给他们一些鄙夷的评论，我也从来没有给过他们钱－－听过太多假乞丐的故事。
今天晚上从公司出来，上车以后才意识到这是几天来第一次往这个方向走。又是在长虹桥边上等绿灯，却不见了那两个人。开了一天会，脑子不灵了，花了好几秒钟的时间才想明白：两会！
虽然我从来不惮以最坏的念头来揣度政府和政府的走卒，却还是希望这两个人是讨到了足够多的钱解甲归田去采菊东篱下了；甚至是因为这一带都是我这样的悭吝之徒而换了投入产出比更高的乞讨场所。当然，这些情况发生的概率比《教父》第四集的可能性更加微乎其微。
前两天李方因为3月9日的山西交城矿难被禁止报道而怒责新闻审查部门：“你们把两会当什么了？真的当办喜事啊？”其实，该来回答这个问题的不只是新闻审查部门。
每天晚上八九点钟下班如果从三环路的方向走，在兆龙饭店门前等绿灯的时候，总会有两个胡子拉喳、衣衫褴褛、看不出有多大年纪的人在车从当中行乞。每个出租司机都会给他们一些鄙夷的评论，我也从来没有给过他们钱－－听过太多假乞丐的故事。
今天晚上从公司出来，上车以后才意识到这是几天来第一次往这个方向走。又是在长虹桥边上等绿灯，却不见了那两个人。开了一天会，脑子不灵了，花了好几秒钟的时间才想明白：两会！
虽然我从来不惮以最坏的念头来揣度政府和政府的走卒，却还是希望这两个人是讨到了足够多的钱解甲归田去采菊东篱下了；甚至是因为这一带都是我这样的悭吝之徒而换了投入产出比更高的乞讨场所。当然，这些情况发生的概率比《教父》第四集的可能性更加微乎其微。
前两天李方因为3月9日的山西交城矿难被禁止报道而怒责新闻审查部门：“你们把两会当什么了？真的当办喜事啊？”其实，该来回答这个问题的不只是新闻审查部门。
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
是谁关了谁？
英国病人 @ 2005-01-25 23:56
Ralph Finnes曾主演过一部电影“Sunshine”，他在里面饰演祖孙三代犹太人。影片的后半部，年迈的母亲在探望因参与政治活动而获罪的儿子时意味深长的说：You're not in the prison, my dear.然后回头看了一眼狱卒，说：They are.
据外电报道，王雁南女士在乃父驾鹤西归之后以手机短信告知亲友父亲走得很安详，并说：“这回他终于自由了”，我等晚辈听来岂是一个凄凉了得。隐隐的，总在心里觉得是我们连累了他。不过话说回来，谁又能说那些关了他15年的人，他们自己不是被关进了一个更加万劫不复的牢狱中呢？
那天正好出差在芬兰，时差的原因半夜醒来看新闻，居然就看到这条消息。一年多以前曾有过一次传闻，我给朋友们的email里写了四个字：欲哭无泪。而这次心里确只是一阵彻骨的寒冷。同学自新加坡发来短信说：...kind of sad. Beijing seems to have dropped '89 completely.我当即回短信：That is not true. The memory is simply not allowed to surface, but it is always there. 那天早上看着BBC的新闻，在心里为小我许了一个愿，假如有一天能够实现，我会告诉所有人的。
Ralph Finnes曾主演过一部电影“Sunshine”，他在里面饰演祖孙三代犹太人。影片的后半部，年迈的母亲在探望因参与政治活动而获罪的儿子时意味深长的说：You're not in the prison, my dear.然后回头看了一眼狱卒，说：They are.
据外电报道，王雁南女士在乃父驾鹤西归之后以手机短信告知亲友父亲走得很安详，并说：“这回他终于自由了”，我等晚辈听来岂是一个凄凉了得。隐隐的，总在心里觉得是我们连累了他。不过话说回来，谁又能说那些关了他15年的人，他们自己不是被关进了一个更加万劫不复的牢狱中呢？
那天正好出差在芬兰，时差的原因半夜醒来看新闻，居然就看到这条消息。一年多以前曾有过一次传闻，我给朋友们的email里写了四个字：欲哭无泪。而这次心里确只是一阵彻骨的寒冷。同学自新加坡发来短信说：...kind of sad. Beijing seems to have dropped '89 completely.我当即回短信：That is not true. The memory is simply not allowed to surface, but it is always there. 那天早上看着BBC的新闻，在心里为小我许了一个愿，假如有一天能够实现，我会告诉所有人的。
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
顺序搞错了
昨晚在家给自己倒了一杯红酒，在音响里放一张CD，开始熨衣服，感觉很惬意。过了一会突然觉得有点不大对劲----这种20岁的时候应该有的轻松的单身生活我到快40岁突然开始享受起来，而20多岁的时候却是每天下班准时乘班车回家做饭陪老婆---- 显然是把顺序搞错了。居然还可以惬意起来，惬意当中也难说没有一点自嘲的。恐怕能最好地解释这种心理因素的莫过于刘若英上一张专辑的题目《我的失败与伟大》。
另外一个跟刘若英有关的话题：怎么就没有人想起写一部不同年龄段男人的故事呢？鉴于当前把顺序搞错的人不在少数，题目倒是也不妨换成《40、30、20》。
还是跟刘若英有关的话题：我不用自怨自艾的唱《一辈子的孤单》----因为我喜欢的人和喜欢我的人都出现了，而且她们还碰巧是一个人
另外一个跟刘若英有关的话题：怎么就没有人想起写一部不同年龄段男人的故事呢？鉴于当前把顺序搞错的人不在少数，题目倒是也不妨换成《40、30、20》。
还是跟刘若英有关的话题：我不用自怨自艾的唱《一辈子的孤单》----因为我喜欢的人和喜欢我的人都出现了，而且她们还碰巧是一个人
Sunday, October 24, 2004
香港“一日游”及新书斩获
比起8月的芬兰一日游，这次在香港待一天已经是很奢侈的事情了。
一早从深圳的酒店出发，象打仗一样过关、赶车、换车、疾走，终于在9：30赶到世贸中心。10：30会议结束，跳上一辆出租车赶往位于红墈的酒店。酒店是找到了，房间却还没有好。Check in，留下行李，出发前往旺角。
后来跟S说是去书店的路上路过Sasa才先去给她买的化妆品，其实是逗她了。地铁站的出口正对的就是樂文，不过还是先去了下一个街区的Sasa，结果只买到了购物清单的五分之三，又向前走了两条街还有另外一个Sasa的店面，结果也是一样。这才死心，回到樂文。
这次并没有太多的惊喜，计购得下列几本书：
《风中的费洛蒙》，陈升，圆神出版社，2004年7月
阿升的书很有意思，读起来象意识流小说，摄影作品又全部出于傻瓜相机－－“天生就很迷人的天蝎座”。
《吃一碗文化》、《再吃一碗文化》，薛兴国，明窗出版社，2002年7月，2003年6月
近年来对谈吃的书大感兴趣，但是绝不买菜谱－－因为买了也是白买。不能跟小美那样－－那可是香港带回来的菜谱啊！不知道什么时候才能吃上她烤的蛋糕
下午看完市场回到太古城，发现大厅里在开小型的书展，自然不能放过，何况还有打折。逛了半个小时，收获如下：
《沧桑百感》，刘再复，天地图书，2004年
这是他的漂流手记的第八本。对于我们，刘再复、李泽厚代表了我们的那个年代。
《慢慢微笑》，毛尖，天地图书，2004年
她的那本电影笔记感觉尚好，董桥也对她有颇高的评价，但是也并没有感觉一定就要买这一本－－如果没有那一篇“夜访罗大佑”
The Roaring Nineties, Joseph Stiglitz, Penguin Books, 2003
打折之后相当于7镑钱，还是值得的。这位老兄退位之后的一些言论颇为诡异。
《粤语（香港话）教程》，郑定欧、张励妍、高石英编著，三联书店（香港），2003年10月
下午跟某经销商聊天的时候感觉不能讲广东话实在是别扭，所以，开始认真学，何况这本书还有一张MP3呢？^_^
晚上跟007老师去喝酒，居然发现湾仔洛克道上一条街的酒吧里，我们能进的居然只有一家
午夜之后回到酒店，房间终于已经准备好了，倒头便睡，Zzzzzzzzzzzz
一早从深圳的酒店出发，象打仗一样过关、赶车、换车、疾走，终于在9：30赶到世贸中心。10：30会议结束，跳上一辆出租车赶往位于红墈的酒店。酒店是找到了，房间却还没有好。Check in，留下行李，出发前往旺角。
后来跟S说是去书店的路上路过Sasa才先去给她买的化妆品，其实是逗她了。地铁站的出口正对的就是樂文，不过还是先去了下一个街区的Sasa，结果只买到了购物清单的五分之三，又向前走了两条街还有另外一个Sasa的店面，结果也是一样。这才死心，回到樂文。
这次并没有太多的惊喜，计购得下列几本书：
《风中的费洛蒙》，陈升，圆神出版社，2004年7月
阿升的书很有意思，读起来象意识流小说，摄影作品又全部出于傻瓜相机－－“天生就很迷人的天蝎座”。
《吃一碗文化》、《再吃一碗文化》，薛兴国，明窗出版社，2002年7月，2003年6月
近年来对谈吃的书大感兴趣，但是绝不买菜谱－－因为买了也是白买。不能跟小美那样－－那可是香港带回来的菜谱啊！不知道什么时候才能吃上她烤的蛋糕
下午看完市场回到太古城，发现大厅里在开小型的书展，自然不能放过，何况还有打折。逛了半个小时，收获如下：
《沧桑百感》，刘再复，天地图书，2004年
这是他的漂流手记的第八本。对于我们，刘再复、李泽厚代表了我们的那个年代。
《慢慢微笑》，毛尖，天地图书，2004年
她的那本电影笔记感觉尚好，董桥也对她有颇高的评价，但是也并没有感觉一定就要买这一本－－如果没有那一篇“夜访罗大佑”
The Roaring Nineties, Joseph Stiglitz, Penguin Books, 2003
打折之后相当于7镑钱，还是值得的。这位老兄退位之后的一些言论颇为诡异。
《粤语（香港话）教程》，郑定欧、张励妍、高石英编著，三联书店（香港），2003年10月
下午跟某经销商聊天的时候感觉不能讲广东话实在是别扭，所以，开始认真学，何况这本书还有一张MP3呢？^_^
晚上跟007老师去喝酒，居然发现湾仔洛克道上一条街的酒吧里，我们能进的居然只有一家
午夜之后回到酒店，房间终于已经准备好了，倒头便睡，Zzzzzzzzzzzz
Saturday, September 25, 2004
我们永远对他心怀感激
熬夜看了大佑在长沙金鹰艺术节上的亮相，惊奇的发现自己居然又被他感动！他只唱了四首歌，包括我至爱的《光阴的故事》和《你的样子》，还有我不甚喜的《恋曲1990》和我甚不喜的《东方之珠》，可是看着他滑稽的舞步听着他偶尔出错的歌词，忽然鼻子有一点点酸：眼前这个50岁的“老男人”用他的音乐让我们并不灿烂的青春岁月有了些许值得记忆的一面，所以我们没有权力责怪他偶尔略嫌偏激的言语，没有权力埋怨他出唱片太慢，没有权力指责他在不入流的晚会和庆典上亮相：我们对他所有的感情只应该是感激！
大佑，我们永远热爱你！
大佑，我们永远热爱你！
Sunday, September 19, 2004
土耳其政府的必读书
英国病人 @ 2004-09-19 16:06
还记得几年前参加公司的培训，那个做我mentor的中年英国女人在得知我现在基本只看non- fiction以后对我说：这是一个人grown up的标志。英国人总是shoot for understatement，所以我理解她真正的意思是：you are old. 当时在心里说：”Thank you for the reminder. I know I'm old.”
这些年看过的fiction的东西确实屈指可数，除了偶尔上网一目十行一下流行的小说之外，比如《成都》、《一支烟》什么的，纸书也就是看过Kundera和David Lodge的新作品，甚至偶尔翻一下George Orwell也是看他的Essays。
上次在伦敦逛Books etc.的时候从“3 for 2”里面挑了三本non-fiction，最先拿起来读的就是Bill Bryson的这本”A Short History of Nearly Everything”
一是因为很喜欢作者的风格，把旅行书也写的那么有趣，这点上能跟他比的也就是Michael Palin了；二是自从看了爱因斯坦的那本”The Evolution of Physics”之后就对科学史的东西走火入魔。
可以说这是作者三年来学习科学知识的一个总结，虽然内容上不会有创新（他又不是任何学科前沿的科学家）不过他的那种幽默的风格依然随处可见，比如他在计算一个枕头里面会有多少微生物之后还要加一句：幸亏这还是你自己的枕头，想想酒店里的枕头会怎么样？看来作者以后是不打算再写旅游书了。
另一段让我差一点喷饭的是关于祖先数量的计算：现在的任何一个人向上推64代，也就是到罗马人的时代，从数学上算起来需要的祖先应该有one million trillion，是地球上曾经生活过的总人口的数千倍。本来指出计算“错误”在于人类繁衍的过程中存在大量inbreeding就可以了（可能最有名的就是鼎鼎大名的达尔文娶了自己的表妹），Bryson却非要将问题社会学化：我们的祖上有很多“乱伦”现象存在，所以如果有个人骄傲地对你声称：“我是征服者威廉的第xx代嫡亲。”你也可以很高兴地回答：“Me too.”原来如彼：本以为乱伦是某些个别人的性变态行为，这才意识到原来更科学的分类应该是“返祖现象”，跟毛孩算一类。
从奥斯陆回赫尔辛基的飞机上随手翻当天的Financial Times，看到几条有意思的消息：第一条：希腊新政府发现前任左翼政府在奥运会的支出上“帐外有帐”，导致希腊今年的财政赤字几乎要达到欧元区规定的 3%的两倍――不奇怪啊，甚至可以说希腊人简直是少见多怪，等着看北京的。第二条：《英雄》连续第二周排行北美票房第一――不奇怪啊，我对美国人的傻是从来不会吃惊的。倒是张艺谋接受”New York Times”采访时声称：在拍电影的时候脑子里就是一半想着中国观众一半想着西方观众，这倒让我觉着奇怪了：应该坚持说我就是拍的中国电影，西方观众是被我纯中国的东西打动的，那多酷啊。第三条：土耳其执政政府准备提请议会立法给通奸定罪，欧盟随即威胁如果此提议得以通过的话将影响土耳其加入欧盟的进程。不奇怪啊，土耳其毕竟是伊斯兰占主导的国家嘛，只是提议案的不明白，如果乱伦都是我们祖先乐此不疲的运动，通奸岂不是小菜一碟？
第二天的Financial Times跟踪报道：土耳其政府坚持声称：给通奸定罪不是出于宗教的原因，而是为了保护妇女的利益。
第三天的情况发生了变化：土耳其政府让步了，准备放弃这项议案，原因是国内反对党议员的阻力和欧盟的压力――原来是不得已而为之还不是心服口服。我是不是应该做件好事，明儿就把我手上这本书寄给土耳其总理，还要标出重点段落。
==================
Product Details:
Paperback 688 pages (June 1, 2004)
Publisher: Black Swan
ISBN: 0552997048
Category(ies): Science & Nature
Average Customer Review: | Write a review
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 22
还记得几年前参加公司的培训，那个做我mentor的中年英国女人在得知我现在基本只看non- fiction以后对我说：这是一个人grown up的标志。英国人总是shoot for understatement，所以我理解她真正的意思是：you are old. 当时在心里说：”Thank you for the reminder. I know I'm old.”
这些年看过的fiction的东西确实屈指可数，除了偶尔上网一目十行一下流行的小说之外，比如《成都》、《一支烟》什么的，纸书也就是看过Kundera和David Lodge的新作品，甚至偶尔翻一下George Orwell也是看他的Essays。
上次在伦敦逛Books etc.的时候从“3 for 2”里面挑了三本non-fiction，最先拿起来读的就是Bill Bryson的这本”A Short History of Nearly Everything”
一是因为很喜欢作者的风格，把旅行书也写的那么有趣，这点上能跟他比的也就是Michael Palin了；二是自从看了爱因斯坦的那本”The Evolution of Physics”之后就对科学史的东西走火入魔。
可以说这是作者三年来学习科学知识的一个总结，虽然内容上不会有创新（他又不是任何学科前沿的科学家）不过他的那种幽默的风格依然随处可见，比如他在计算一个枕头里面会有多少微生物之后还要加一句：幸亏这还是你自己的枕头，想想酒店里的枕头会怎么样？看来作者以后是不打算再写旅游书了。
另一段让我差一点喷饭的是关于祖先数量的计算：现在的任何一个人向上推64代，也就是到罗马人的时代，从数学上算起来需要的祖先应该有one million trillion，是地球上曾经生活过的总人口的数千倍。本来指出计算“错误”在于人类繁衍的过程中存在大量inbreeding就可以了（可能最有名的就是鼎鼎大名的达尔文娶了自己的表妹），Bryson却非要将问题社会学化：我们的祖上有很多“乱伦”现象存在，所以如果有个人骄傲地对你声称：“我是征服者威廉的第xx代嫡亲。”你也可以很高兴地回答：“Me too.”原来如彼：本以为乱伦是某些个别人的性变态行为，这才意识到原来更科学的分类应该是“返祖现象”，跟毛孩算一类。
从奥斯陆回赫尔辛基的飞机上随手翻当天的Financial Times，看到几条有意思的消息：第一条：希腊新政府发现前任左翼政府在奥运会的支出上“帐外有帐”，导致希腊今年的财政赤字几乎要达到欧元区规定的 3%的两倍――不奇怪啊，甚至可以说希腊人简直是少见多怪，等着看北京的。第二条：《英雄》连续第二周排行北美票房第一――不奇怪啊，我对美国人的傻是从来不会吃惊的。倒是张艺谋接受”New York Times”采访时声称：在拍电影的时候脑子里就是一半想着中国观众一半想着西方观众，这倒让我觉着奇怪了：应该坚持说我就是拍的中国电影，西方观众是被我纯中国的东西打动的，那多酷啊。第三条：土耳其执政政府准备提请议会立法给通奸定罪，欧盟随即威胁如果此提议得以通过的话将影响土耳其加入欧盟的进程。不奇怪啊，土耳其毕竟是伊斯兰占主导的国家嘛，只是提议案的不明白，如果乱伦都是我们祖先乐此不疲的运动，通奸岂不是小菜一碟？
第二天的Financial Times跟踪报道：土耳其政府坚持声称：给通奸定罪不是出于宗教的原因，而是为了保护妇女的利益。
第三天的情况发生了变化：土耳其政府让步了，准备放弃这项议案，原因是国内反对党议员的阻力和欧盟的压力――原来是不得已而为之还不是心服口服。我是不是应该做件好事，明儿就把我手上这本书寄给土耳其总理，还要标出重点段落。
==================
Product Details:
Paperback 688 pages (June 1, 2004)
Publisher: Black Swan
ISBN: 0552997048
Category(ies): Science & Nature
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Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 22
Sunday, September 5, 2004
是巧合呢，还是冥冥中给我的提醒？
今天下午懒在沙发上，不想看书，于是翻出几个星期前买的一打DVD，一眼就看到了这张”One Day in September”。
片子几乎放完的时候突然意识到：天哪！那场惨剧居然是发生在32年前的今天！有多少人还记得？
说是结论听起来有点荒唐，不过看片子的时候确实想到：第一，正如这位至今唯一存活下来的巴勒斯坦枪手所说，能去执行这个任务至少比一辈子在难民营混着强。积郁在心中的不满或愤怒总要有表达的渠道，否则它会以某种极端的方式发泄出来，轻的是往球场里面扔矿泉水瓶子，重的就可能是去枪杀对方的运动员或者劫持飞机去撞对方的大楼。前些日子写给The Economist编辑的信也是这个意思：
Sir,
Your attempt in the article on the Asian Cup Final between China and Japan ("Grudge match" Aug 12th 2004) failed to shoot on target, narrowly.
You correctly pointed out that "Nationalism runs high in China, and anti-Japanese sentiment runs even higher", and this stems from "Japan's utter failure to face up to its guilty history.” However, this is equally, if not more, to do with the Chinese authorities' and state-run media' failure to adopt harsh enough stance, not otherwise as you stated in your article, against the Japanese, as well as the failure to provide alternative outlets of this sentiment by banning all civil petitions or demonstrations, resulting in it being pent up, and the fever pitch became almost the only channel for the ordinary Chinese to voice their frustration and discontent. Therefore this "mob ugliness" is less similar to the hooliganism mastered so well by some of the England football supporters on so many occasions than to the mass demonstrations across Czechoslovakia in March 1969 after their ice-hockey team defeated the Soviets, minus the vandalism though—you rightly noticed that the violence was not worse. No Toyotas or Nissans were smashed, as would have happened to the BMWs or VWs had the England football team lost to Germany.
On a separate note: China's capability to stage the Olympics peacefully should never be doubted as all the state apparatus will be in full motion to make sure that any disagreeable voices would be muted and any disagreeable people would be removed and locked away from the proximity of any public exposure long before the first whistle is blown . However, China's credential of hosting such an event has never been questioned enough by the international communities, not on the grounds of its lack of capability to make it a happy gathering, but on the grounds of its overwhelming power to do so.
结论之二，三十年来通讯技术特别是移动通信的突飞猛进使得劫持和解救都变得更困难更复杂，在无良的媒体眼中也就更刺激了。
结论之三，The so-called German efficiency is just a myth. The Royal SAS, or even the US Marine Corps would have done a much better job had they been involved.
片子几乎放完的时候突然意识到：天哪！那场惨剧居然是发生在32年前的今天！有多少人还记得？
说是结论听起来有点荒唐，不过看片子的时候确实想到：第一，正如这位至今唯一存活下来的巴勒斯坦枪手所说，能去执行这个任务至少比一辈子在难民营混着强。积郁在心中的不满或愤怒总要有表达的渠道，否则它会以某种极端的方式发泄出来，轻的是往球场里面扔矿泉水瓶子，重的就可能是去枪杀对方的运动员或者劫持飞机去撞对方的大楼。前些日子写给The Economist编辑的信也是这个意思：
Sir,
Your attempt in the article on the Asian Cup Final between China and Japan ("Grudge match" Aug 12th 2004) failed to shoot on target, narrowly.
You correctly pointed out that "Nationalism runs high in China, and anti-Japanese sentiment runs even higher", and this stems from "Japan's utter failure to face up to its guilty history.” However, this is equally, if not more, to do with the Chinese authorities' and state-run media' failure to adopt harsh enough stance, not otherwise as you stated in your article, against the Japanese, as well as the failure to provide alternative outlets of this sentiment by banning all civil petitions or demonstrations, resulting in it being pent up, and the fever pitch became almost the only channel for the ordinary Chinese to voice their frustration and discontent. Therefore this "mob ugliness" is less similar to the hooliganism mastered so well by some of the England football supporters on so many occasions than to the mass demonstrations across Czechoslovakia in March 1969 after their ice-hockey team defeated the Soviets, minus the vandalism though—you rightly noticed that the violence was not worse. No Toyotas or Nissans were smashed, as would have happened to the BMWs or VWs had the England football team lost to Germany.
On a separate note: China's capability to stage the Olympics peacefully should never be doubted as all the state apparatus will be in full motion to make sure that any disagreeable voices would be muted and any disagreeable people would be removed and locked away from the proximity of any public exposure long before the first whistle is blown . However, China's credential of hosting such an event has never been questioned enough by the international communities, not on the grounds of its lack of capability to make it a happy gathering, but on the grounds of its overwhelming power to do so.
结论之二，三十年来通讯技术特别是移动通信的突飞猛进使得劫持和解救都变得更困难更复杂，在无良的媒体眼中也就更刺激了。
结论之三，The so-called German efficiency is just a myth. The Royal SAS, or even the US Marine Corps would have done a much better job had they been involved.
Monday, July 26, 2004
My Portugal Diary (Final)
Day 8 Tuesday 22 June 2004
What happened last night still feels surreal.
Started to move into the ground at 6:30, but didn't manage to get to my seat at around 7:15 going through a series of security checks. There were even a team of mounting police outside the stadium, well equipped and prepared. There was a clock counting down to the kick-off. Cheering was always reverberating in the stadium when the England players were warming up. The stands were quickly filled up, am afraid 70-80% were taken by fans in England jerseys in red or white. Cheering was especially loud when Rooney and Gerard were introduced, while the names of the Croatian players were made completely inaudible by the whistles and boos. Then the big chorus of "God Save the Queen", followed by the Croatian national anthem submerged in the jeers—something similar to what happened when England were playing Turkey in the qualification stage, then there were the abuses of England's black players by the Turks. Hope things are not going as bad today.
The start couldn't have been worse for England. I had a sinister feeling before the kick-off that England might concede an early goal. And that's exactly what happened. The defence on set pieces has always been fragile. The score line read 1:0 to Croatia already in the 5th minute. I was saying the same prayer as I did the day I landed in Portugal: ENGLAND, HERE I AM, COMING ALL THE WAY FOR YOU. DON'T LET ME DOWN!
It seemed the prayer was being heard and answered immediately, it was all England. After 40 minutes of anxiety, Paul Scholes headed England level. After Nuno Gomez settled the scores for Portugal the previous night, I was predicting that it would be an international veteran to rise to the occasion, and for England it would be Owen or Scholes. Then there came that feeling of unreality, first striking me when the whole stadium was on its feet for the goal. For a split of a second, I felt I was flying high. Just probably, drugs could give the same effect? Even before the stadium sat down on its seat, Rooney the wonder boy scored another wonder goal! The legend simply continues! Half time: England 2:1 Croatia.
Got a text message from a friend in Beijing:”你坐在什么地方？看来不裸奔是看不见你了” I texted him back:”坐在英格兰角旗边上，裸奔不大容易，因为在上台，估计还没奔下去就已经被按住了”
The second half started with England continuing the dominance. Then Rooney scored again! England were cruising, running wild. With about 20 minutes left, Rooney was substituted to a standing ovation. But, almost immediately, Croatia pulled one back from yet another sucker free kick. That sickening feeling creeping secretly back: would we repeat that tragic finale of one week ago? The doubt was dispelled though when the impressive Frank Lampard struck a sweet goal to settle all nerves. England are through, 4:2! The same score as England won the World Cup 38 years ago…..
Never had I expected to live through such a sensational game. When England were trailing by one goal, my prediction, or hope, was that we could get back on level before half time, then score a winning goal in the second half.
Crowds were lingering in the stadium, crowds were gathering outside the stadium. Fans were chanting Rooney’s name in front of television cameras. Suddenly a familiar figure came out of the crowd: Andrew Gilligan, carrying the same rocksack (maybe). Taking out his notebook, he started to interview a group of fans sitting on the road curb. Struck a brief chat and asked for an autograph from him before he walked away, this seemed to have surprised him.
What was so lovely was that the fans from both camps mingled merrily together, both on the tube and later in the city centre.
Suddenly, for no reasons at all, I had a feeling of anticlimax. Could it simply be the fact that the emotions, expectations, anxieties and excitements have been built so high in the past few days, and then they are released in such an emphatic manner, and left in me only void? Anyway, did join the crowds in Rossio for a beer, than came back to the youth hostel before 1:00.
Had a very good sleep, woke up at 10:00 this morning. As soon as the phone was switched on a couple of business related messages came in, reminding me there is a real world outside football. Then a long discussion on business issues over my brunch with two colleagues in the office was only strengthening that message.
Couldn't manage to get a direct flight back to London, had to go via Milan. The flight took off at 15:05. I'm now wrapping up this diary on the plane. For me, the trip to Euro 2004 is over. I'm back to reality, and back to my armchair supporter status.
But England are marching on. That is a fantastic feeling!
（全文完）
What happened last night still feels surreal.
Started to move into the ground at 6:30, but didn't manage to get to my seat at around 7:15 going through a series of security checks. There were even a team of mounting police outside the stadium, well equipped and prepared. There was a clock counting down to the kick-off. Cheering was always reverberating in the stadium when the England players were warming up. The stands were quickly filled up, am afraid 70-80% were taken by fans in England jerseys in red or white. Cheering was especially loud when Rooney and Gerard were introduced, while the names of the Croatian players were made completely inaudible by the whistles and boos. Then the big chorus of "God Save the Queen", followed by the Croatian national anthem submerged in the jeers—something similar to what happened when England were playing Turkey in the qualification stage, then there were the abuses of England's black players by the Turks. Hope things are not going as bad today.
The start couldn't have been worse for England. I had a sinister feeling before the kick-off that England might concede an early goal. And that's exactly what happened. The defence on set pieces has always been fragile. The score line read 1:0 to Croatia already in the 5th minute. I was saying the same prayer as I did the day I landed in Portugal: ENGLAND, HERE I AM, COMING ALL THE WAY FOR YOU. DON'T LET ME DOWN!
It seemed the prayer was being heard and answered immediately, it was all England. After 40 minutes of anxiety, Paul Scholes headed England level. After Nuno Gomez settled the scores for Portugal the previous night, I was predicting that it would be an international veteran to rise to the occasion, and for England it would be Owen or Scholes. Then there came that feeling of unreality, first striking me when the whole stadium was on its feet for the goal. For a split of a second, I felt I was flying high. Just probably, drugs could give the same effect? Even before the stadium sat down on its seat, Rooney the wonder boy scored another wonder goal! The legend simply continues! Half time: England 2:1 Croatia.
Got a text message from a friend in Beijing:”你坐在什么地方？看来不裸奔是看不见你了” I texted him back:”坐在英格兰角旗边上，裸奔不大容易，因为在上台，估计还没奔下去就已经被按住了”
The second half started with England continuing the dominance. Then Rooney scored again! England were cruising, running wild. With about 20 minutes left, Rooney was substituted to a standing ovation. But, almost immediately, Croatia pulled one back from yet another sucker free kick. That sickening feeling creeping secretly back: would we repeat that tragic finale of one week ago? The doubt was dispelled though when the impressive Frank Lampard struck a sweet goal to settle all nerves. England are through, 4:2! The same score as England won the World Cup 38 years ago…..
Never had I expected to live through such a sensational game. When England were trailing by one goal, my prediction, or hope, was that we could get back on level before half time, then score a winning goal in the second half.
Crowds were lingering in the stadium, crowds were gathering outside the stadium. Fans were chanting Rooney’s name in front of television cameras. Suddenly a familiar figure came out of the crowd: Andrew Gilligan, carrying the same rocksack (maybe). Taking out his notebook, he started to interview a group of fans sitting on the road curb. Struck a brief chat and asked for an autograph from him before he walked away, this seemed to have surprised him.
What was so lovely was that the fans from both camps mingled merrily together, both on the tube and later in the city centre.
Suddenly, for no reasons at all, I had a feeling of anticlimax. Could it simply be the fact that the emotions, expectations, anxieties and excitements have been built so high in the past few days, and then they are released in such an emphatic manner, and left in me only void? Anyway, did join the crowds in Rossio for a beer, than came back to the youth hostel before 1:00.
Had a very good sleep, woke up at 10:00 this morning. As soon as the phone was switched on a couple of business related messages came in, reminding me there is a real world outside football. Then a long discussion on business issues over my brunch with two colleagues in the office was only strengthening that message.
Couldn't manage to get a direct flight back to London, had to go via Milan. The flight took off at 15:05. I'm now wrapping up this diary on the plane. For me, the trip to Euro 2004 is over. I'm back to reality, and back to my armchair supporter status.
But England are marching on. That is a fantastic feeling!
（全文完）
My Portugal Diary: Day 7
Day 7 Monday 21 June, 2004
D-Day!
Felt terribly weak when waking up, sweating all over. Suddenly realised that I had been too busy celebrating with the locals last night to eat any food! And the beer didn't help. Pulled myself out of bed, and dragged the "dead" body to the nearest coffee shop. A banana settled me slightly, but even after a sausage roll, a croissant, a yogurt, half a melon, and two cups of coffee, I still didn't feel full. Oh, God, too old to be flexible with diet any more!
Finally settled with a bowl of fruit salad and a third cup of coffee. Could finish yesterday's diary and recorded the stormy start of the day. The sun is as bright as any other day.
Went down to Rossio. Was planning to do some shopping, but was amazed to find the whole square was already draped in St. George's flags with all kinds of clubs' and individuals' names painted on them. Shame couldn't find a LFC flag. Only on one flag by a couple can one find a Liver bird—took a picture in front of it. A huge St. George's sponsored by Nationwide was spread on the square with three giant words on it: Pride. Passion. Belief. Countless people have signed on it with encouragements or good wishes. I could barely find a space to write anything, but did manage at the end to scribble: "England All The Way!" Texted Roger: "It looks like we not only have won the game, but have taken over the whole country."
Had a fabulous lunch in the restaurant next to the youth hostel, and finished a bottle of vinho verde. Feeling great, just the right mood to go to the pitch
葡萄牙人比法国人还过分：3：00多到餐厅的时候还有很多穿西服的人在吃午饭，而且每个人面前都有酒。估计下午都不用工作了，和我一样也是为晚上的比赛酝酿情绪的吧
Got to the Estadio da Luz (Stadium of the Light) by the tube 3 hours in advance, only to find the surrounding area was already packed by fans in all kinds of costumes, the English fans vastly outnumbering the Croats. The England supporters have the capability of converting every pitch into a home ground!
The nearby shopping mall is housing tens of thousands of England fans, with beer flowing at sky high. Provided no window is smashed, the shop owners must be dreaming of a European Championship every month, with every game involving the English
Are you ready? Come On, England!
D-Day!
Felt terribly weak when waking up, sweating all over. Suddenly realised that I had been too busy celebrating with the locals last night to eat any food! And the beer didn't help. Pulled myself out of bed, and dragged the "dead" body to the nearest coffee shop. A banana settled me slightly, but even after a sausage roll, a croissant, a yogurt, half a melon, and two cups of coffee, I still didn't feel full. Oh, God, too old to be flexible with diet any more!
Finally settled with a bowl of fruit salad and a third cup of coffee. Could finish yesterday's diary and recorded the stormy start of the day. The sun is as bright as any other day.
Went down to Rossio. Was planning to do some shopping, but was amazed to find the whole square was already draped in St. George's flags with all kinds of clubs' and individuals' names painted on them. Shame couldn't find a LFC flag. Only on one flag by a couple can one find a Liver bird—took a picture in front of it. A huge St. George's sponsored by Nationwide was spread on the square with three giant words on it: Pride. Passion. Belief. Countless people have signed on it with encouragements or good wishes. I could barely find a space to write anything, but did manage at the end to scribble: "England All The Way!" Texted Roger: "It looks like we not only have won the game, but have taken over the whole country."
Had a fabulous lunch in the restaurant next to the youth hostel, and finished a bottle of vinho verde. Feeling great, just the right mood to go to the pitch
葡萄牙人比法国人还过分：3：00多到餐厅的时候还有很多穿西服的人在吃午饭，而且每个人面前都有酒。估计下午都不用工作了，和我一样也是为晚上的比赛酝酿情绪的吧
Got to the Estadio da Luz (Stadium of the Light) by the tube 3 hours in advance, only to find the surrounding area was already packed by fans in all kinds of costumes, the English fans vastly outnumbering the Croats. The England supporters have the capability of converting every pitch into a home ground!
The nearby shopping mall is housing tens of thousands of England fans, with beer flowing at sky high. Provided no window is smashed, the shop owners must be dreaming of a European Championship every month, with every game involving the English
Are you ready? Come On, England!
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