盲评世界杯

到目前为止,应该说最让人惊讶的是德国队。
尽管老将队长Ballack因伤缺阵,而且整个球队之合练了2个月,球盲本以为这个没有一个一线球星的德国队这次也就是出线无忧,晋级无望,可是她第一场对澳大利亚的比赛却彻底把球盲征服。貌似沉闷的后场倒脚,却是为中场渗透找寻机会,眨眼间便又是一次犀利的进攻。澳大利亚队的防线在德国人面前显得如同业余一般,屡屡被反越位,球门更如纸屏风一般。
都说德国人高傲,但他们的确有资本这样。一次大战,让他们背上巨债,仅仅30年,希特勒就让这个国家重回列强之列,还创出了大众奔驰宝马这几个世界品牌;二次大战再让他们回到铁器时代,而又是30年,德国又回世界的巅峰。这次经济危机,又是德国人力揽狂澜,站出来拯救希腊阿斗,挽救了欧洲,挽救了世界。大家不要忘记,1954年的世界杯冠军就是德国队,那时候距离二战结束只有9年!
 
最不让人惊讶的是英格兰。
每届世界杯,英国人都是信誓旦旦,似乎世界杯非他莫属,而每次都要不是悲情,就是出糗。开赛第一场,他们的油手套门将不负众望目送足球缓慢滚入球网。英国人一向小器,而每每面对美国都十分大方。从两百年前送给美国人独立,到今天败给人家一个球。平心而论,英国的明星球员,多为造星运动之结果。他们的贝克汉姆出现在时装和gossip杂志上的频率,远高于体育杂志,从此可见一斑。另外,脚法粗糙,中场欠却,都什么年代了,还用很多长传冲吊。。。唉。本想再多说两句,转念算了,英国人早就没有了炫耀的资本。二战后陆续丢了无数的殖民地(国土猥琐),90年代又丢了所有的汽车厂(制造业玩完),北海石油所剩无几,金融危机更让他雪上加霜—就让他们在足球上再YY几年吧。。。。。
最神秘的是北朝鲜。今天终于可以看到她与巴西开战。俗话说,知己知彼,百战百胜,这回巴西在明处,朝鲜在暗处,胜负还真的是难料。想象朝鲜国的惨象,猜想只要战平便会被世界人民你认为是胜利。而一旦如此,这又会像是再给中国足球一个响亮的耳光—要知道N年前,好不容易混进奥运会的中国队在巴西队前0:3如杀鸡般的完败。但转念一想,这又能算得了什么呢,顶多不过是鞭尸而已。

It’s BP again, justa funny one…


BP stock almost sheded 60% of its value since the accident, and people are talking about the risk of BP going bankruptcy. If the US lifts the limit on legal liability cap, and that will doom BP.
But, is the risk real? Just image that: the risk involving deep sea drill is present to every big oil company, lifting the cap will expose everyone of them, EXXON, Conoco Phillips, Shell, etc. to the lethal litigation in case of such event happens. And ALL these companies are going to mobilize (most likely, have mobilized) their lobbyists in the capital hill to block it from happening. With billions of dollars in their pocket, they WILL have what they want. On the other hand, passing such laws will inevitably dramatically increase the cost of drilling, and hence the gas price. the government, and congress is not going to let that happen when the country is facing the risk of entering a double-dip recession.
So, let’s sit back and relax then. It looks BP stock at its current price is a great buy then…. with one caviar: the hurricane season. If a hurricane hits the gulf, people will soon find oil spills deep in land, on their roof, in their backyard…. When there are millions people getting pissed off, BP will probably be doomed if that happens.

Toyota Safety —Safety????

今晚NBA总决赛转播惊现toyota 大打safety的广告。惊诧不已。其中highlight的quote有:
"Toyota’s Star safety system now is standard on all models"
所谓star safety就是整合了 Stability Control ,ABS,Electronic Brake Assist,Electronic Brake-force Distribution,和 traction control的安全技术。在它的网站上她更是自豪地宣布:“Toyota is the first full line manufacture to make star safety system standard on all vehicles”
这是真的吗?我知道的是,早在06年,在toyota在全公司激进推行“没有最便宜只有更便宜”的造车手段是,VW早就在所有的车型上静悄悄地采用了上述所有技术,外加Brake override system,ASR(Anti-slippery Regulation),等等。真不知道偷油塔是怎么能有脸这样宣布的。

每每打开她那轻如页纸的车门,看到只有拇指粗细的侧向防撞梁,你就可以看到她Star下的内在。。。一个一切以成本挂帅的企业,要改变这样的文化,岂能像设计这则广告一样轻易。

Is this a joke or what?