| Qunzeng's profile平平淡淡，普普通通PhotosBlogLists |  Tools  Help |
|
October 31 今年的金融市场太惨淡了美林的CEO都辞职了。 Earlier this week, Stan O'Neal gave up his post as CEO of Merrill Lynch (MER, news, msgs) after the company wrote down the value of mortgage securities and related securities by some $8.2 billion in the third quarter -- an amount equal to 20% of its equity at the end of the second quarter. UBS AG (UBS, news, msgs), the largest Swiss investment banking company, said it lost 726 million Swiss francs ($841 million) in the third quarter because of losses in U.S. subprime mortgages.
Including Merrill and UBS, banks and other financial institutions and related companies have announced write-downs of mortgage-related assets of at least $37 billion in September and October, an amount likely to grow much larger. The reason: So many financial institutions are still scrambling to understand what mortgage securities they own and figure out how much they might be worth. At the same time, housing starts and sales and prices of new and existing homes have been falling rapidly in many markets, especially Florida, Nevada, California and hard-hit Midwestern states such as Michigan. Starting this summer, many investors had refused to buy mortgage securities or commercial paper from mortgage lenders and others, forcing a near seize-up of the global credit system. 今天看到这样一条旧闻嗯，96年最后输给了亚特兰大真是可惜了，我记得我曾经说过亚特兰大举办奥运会以前也不过就是美国一个普通的中等城市，要是当时Twin Cities举办的话现在就没人知道亚特兰大是哪个国家的，但是没想到Twin Cities当时是那么的close, 最后finalist的两个城市之一。虽然2020我肯定不在这里了，还是希望这个能发生，哈哈。Minnescraper上的人都在希望Chicago 2016年输掉，呵呵。Chicago在美国已经战胜了LA, 成为美国2016年的候选城市了。如果Chicago成功了，应该是美国第一次在大城市举办奥运吧。亚特兰大之前应该是圣路易斯，都是中等城市。 我看了一下他们的proposal, 里面还提到了2020正好是两个20摆在一起，跟Twin Cities的名字正好相符。 另外Minneapolis最近stadium的project好多阿，TCF Bank Stadium(这个也是Chicago 2016的备用足球场馆), Baseball的Twins Ballpark都已经动工了，Vikings也不打算在Metrodome了，其实我觉得Metrodome挺好的，为啥大家都嫌它不好，最新的plan好像是要把Metrodome拆掉重新建一个retractable roof的。另外我觉得Twins好过分啊，说是要走，Minneapolis说你们走吧，结果没地方要他们的最后还是要赖在这里，而且还要建球馆。Minneapolis现在的任务是留住Vikings, 因为LA缺少一只NFL的球队，Twins爱咋地咋地，因为没有地方缺Baseball Team的。
St. Paul, MN – State Representative Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park/Coon Rapids) outlined a visionary plan today for bringing the 2020 Summer Olympics to the Twin Cities. Representative Steve Simon (DFL-St. Louis Park), members of the Twin Cities business community, representatives from state sports franchises, local musician Lorie Line, statewide elected officials and former Olympiad Manny Lagos joined her at the Capitol in support of this initiative. Last week, Hortman and 19 House co-authors introduced legislation for the creation of a Task Force to determine whether Minnesota would benefit economically from making a bid and hosting the 2020 Summer Olympics. "In 1988, Mayors Don Fraser and George Latimer partnered with Governor Perpich to put together a great bid for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, coming in second to Atlanta," said Hortman. "We would like to build on their vision for the future of our state and bring the summer games here in 2020." "The Olympics would give us a chance to let the rest of the world discover Minnesota - the best kept secret in America," added Simon. Hortman said that a primary benefit of an Olympic bid would be the creation of jobs in the state, as well as providing a deadline for much needed transportation projects in the metro area, such as the Central Corridor, Red Rock Line and Rush Line. There would also be the added benefit of increased federal aid for capital projects such as roads and transit, similar to what other host cities in the United State have received, according to Hortman. "This is a wonderful opportunity to create jobs, finish projects and let our state shine in the global arena," said Hortman. "We are proud of our state and want the rest of the world to see the high quality of life and recreation that we have to offer." Hortman said that the decision on where to host the 2020 Olympics could be made as early as 2008, making it necessary for the task force to be formed quickly so they can begin planning. She is recommending a 17-person task force, with the Governor naming 13 of the members and the State Legislature appointing the other four members. "In a global economy, landing the Olympic games would be the ultimate marketing coup," said Simon. "The Olympics would anoint Minnesota as world class." Minnescraper上的人好有创意阿，居然想到这么一种设计。在Minneapolis和St. Paul的downtown各建一座高塔，中间用广连起来。
不过近几年Minneapolis的建设实在太保守了，就喜欢建不高不矮的condo. 美国现在房地产市场这么差，真不知道他们怎么想的，真不如建点标志性的东西做做宣传。Minneapolis的downtown确实缺少一个标志性的建筑和公园。那一块建的太密了。而且保留了那么多那么多面粉厂供人参观，有没有搞错啊，谁会对那个感兴趣。那个新建的Gutheri Theater也是面粉厂的样子，太失败了，除了让downtown变得更丑实在没什么作用，我真的觉得这儿的审美细胞强烈有问题。什么是值得保留的什么是垃圾一点都搞不清楚。要是需要把Metrodome拆了在那儿建个新球馆，还不如把那一堆面粉厂拆了用来建球馆呢。Metrodome就摆在那儿也比面粉厂好看一万倍。Pillsbury的楼也太丑了，况且大家都只知道哈根达丝，有几个知道哈根达丝是通用磨坊的，然后通用磨坊又是因为买了Pillsbury才发展起来的呢。挂个Pillsbury还不如挂个哈根达丝呢。 我觉得Twin Cities应该学学国内，在每个楼顶上挂个大牌子。US Bank在其他地方都是挂楼顶，在这儿就只是在门口挂了个小牌。据说Target的总部本来要造得很高的，结果被限制了，真无聊。我觉得理想的状态是US Bank, Target, Xcel Energy, 3M, Ameriprise(这个就挂American Express的牌子), DQ, Haagen-Dazs, PepsiAmerica， 全都在downtown的某座楼上竖个大牌子。DQ在Edina的总部大楼那么土，好拆掉了，搬到downtown得了。另外St. Paul downtownl所有的楼都挖出来贴上玻璃，搬到Minneapolis. Believe it or not, St. Paul已经不行了，好好做省府吧, 别挣扎着开公司了，把3M分出去了真不爽。然后Midway那块儿就卖给Wisconsin吧，反正修也修不好。嗯，这样我住在这儿就基本满意了。
October 16 fancy的迪拜October 15 明大教授又获诺贝尔经济学奖University professor wins Nobel PrizeLeonid Hurwicz's work puts the human factor into economic theory
By Deane Morrison October 15, 2007 University of Minnesota Regents Professor Emeritus Leonid Hurwicz, along with fellow Americans Eric Maskin and Roger Myerson, today won the Nobel Prize in economics for theories that help set rules for transactions ranging from auctions to elections. At 90, Hurwicz is the oldest Nobel winner in history, according to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. A colleague describes Hurwicz as somebody who revolutionized the way people consider how to bring about desired economic change, sweeping away old ways of thinking that relied on central planning without regard to incentives for individuals. "Before Leo, people said, 'Let's just ask people to achieve outcomes, such as how much steel to produce or how many shoes to make,'" says V.V. Chari, the University's Paul Frenzel professor of liberal arts and economics professor. But, says Chari, one can achieve the desired outcomes only if people are provided with the right kind of incentives. VIDEO In practice, he says, Hurwicz's work gives a much better understanding of why centrally planned economic mechanisms such as communism fail so often. The main reason is they do not take adequate account of the incentives people face. "That was a fundamental breakthrough in thinking about economic policy and economic reform," Chari says. In practice, he says, Hurwicz's work gives a much better understanding of why centrally planned economic mechanisms such as communism fail so often. The main reason is they do not take adequate account of the incentives people face. "He explained in mathematical, but commonsense, terms when we should expect markets to function well and when we should expect them to function poorly," says Chari. "He introduced two words that revolutionized all of economics when he insisted that every economic mechanism should be 'incentive compatible.' That is, it should provide people with the right kind of incentive to use the information they have in the best possible way." Hurwicz's work has indirectly affected a wide range of economic policies; for example, it influences the way the government auctions off bandwidths to cellular companies. University President Robert Bruininks was thrilled when he heard the news. "Professor Hurwicz has influenced in a very significant and tranformative way the study of economics and the application of economics to important issues on an international scale," says Bruininks. His work also had a big effect on the way people think about development problems in very poor countries. "We've shifted focus away from the role of governments in solving the problems of poor countries to a focus on the rule of law, stable property rights, and provision of incentives to farmers, businesspeople, and others to act in ways that further the social interest," explains Chari. "The way Leo taught us to think has changed the world." Hurwicz has received many honors before, most notably the National Medal of Science in 1990. At the University, he was the graduate adviser to Daniel McFadden, who won the economics Nobel in 2000. Asked if he suspected a Nobel Prize was in the offing, he replied that he'd been on the short list for 30 years. Hurwicz was trained as a lawyer, receiving a master of laws degree from Warsaw University, Poland, in 1938. He is known for his knowledge of fields ranging far beyond economics. "Leo was and is a Renaissance man," Chari recalls. "The very first time I met him, he engaged me in a long discussion about the intricacies of the dialects of Tamil, my native language, which is one of the languages of South India." Narayana Kocherlakota, chair of the Department of Economics, expressed his pleasure at Hurwicz's selection. "Leo's research and teaching have been at the center of life in the Department of Economics for nearly 60 years," he says. "We are delighted to offer our congratulations to our longtime colleague and friend for this recognition of his extraordinary and foundational research." For additional information about Hurwicz and previous Nobel Prize winners at the University, visit a special Web page created in their honor. October 11 春季Fashion show
Karl Lagerfeld 设计师: Karl Lagerfeld, 现在最牛的设计师了吧，设计的品牌包括Fendi, Chanel和Karl Lagerfeld. Fendi的一倒一正两个F的商标也是他设计的。 Selected show:
Fendi
Valentino 设计师: Valentino，我最喜欢这个，哈哈，好复古阿，就是假货太多了。在The Devil Wears Prada里面俺也是最喜欢Emily.
Selected shows:
Emilio Pucci 设计师: Matthew Willamson
Selected shows:
Christian Dior 设计师: John Galliano
Selected shows:
Oscar Dela Renta 设计师: Oscar Dela Renta
selected shows:
Salvatore Ferragamo 设计师: Graeme Black
selected shows:
Gucci 设计师: Frida Giannini
selected show:
Christian Lacroix 设计师: Christian Lacroix
selected show:
Giorgio Armani 设计师: Giorgio Armani
selected shows:
Burberry 设计师: Christopher Bailey
selected shows:
Michael Kors 设计师: Michael Kors
selected shows:
October 08 1953年的老歌人类一直都是物质的。
Diamonds are a girl's best friend
The French were bred to die for love They delight in fighting duels But I prefer a man who lives And gives expensive jewels A kiss on the hand may be quite continental But diamonds are a girl's best friend A kiss may be grand but it won't pay the rental On your humble flat, or help you at the automat Men grow cold as girls grow old And we all lose our charms in the end But square cut or pear shaped These rocks don't lose their shape Diamonds are a girl's best friend Tiffany's, Cartier Talk to me, Harry, Winston, tell me all about it There may come a time when a lass needs a lawyer But diamonds are a girl's best friend There may come a time when a hard boiled employer Thinks your awful nice But get that ice or else no dice He's your guy when stocks are high But beware when the start to descend It's then that those louses go back to their spouses Diamonds are a girl's best friend I've heard of affairs that are strictly platonic But diamonds are a girl's best friend And I think affairs that you must keep liaisonic Are better bets if little pets get big baggettes Time rolls on and youth is gone And you can't straighten up when you bend But stiff back or stiff knees You stand straight at Tiffany's Diamonds Diamonds I don't mean rhinestones But Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend October 05 色，戒今天又去了品位高的地方，终于看了念叨很久的色，戒。真不容易啊。先去天天渔港吃了饭，巨难吃无比，大家以后千万不要去啊。然后摸索着从那里来到uptown, 第一次这么走，Lake Street修路半边路都不能走，路牌都没有了，黑咕隆咚的，一点都不像uptown的样子了。到了lagoon上终于重见光明，然后找不到趴车位，电影院后面那个停车场我刚进去就full了，而且奇怪的是我明明拿到了ticket, 进去却找不到车位，只好等其他人走了才进去，这样折腾了半天，终于在开始放映十分钟以后进了电影院。人好多好多，只好上楼去看台。因为这个电影院历史及其悠久，还保留着看台，呵呵。看台上倒是没有太多人，嗯，就这样开始看了。
电影拍得还不错，李安就是有水平，取景很好，有美感，也没有很色情，演员的表演就王力宏不咋样，其他人都还好。汤维演得很不错，衣服和帽子好pp。梁朝伟虽然老了点，但是还是挺让人感动的。我对最后汤维的选择特别理解，说实在的，对一个普通人，王力宏他们对她比梁朝伟差远了，他们根本就没把她当人看吧，当那群人认为梁朝伟的信对汤维有危险的时候，实际上梁是让她去挑钻戒。最后虽然她知道梁朝伟肯定会杀了她，但也只能这样才能两不相欠，而且也不用受折磨了。那些人毁了她的一生，理应为她陪葬。梁能够给她定做世界上最美的钻戒，而她从那一群幼稚的娃娃那里得不到任何的东西，就凭他们搞搞暗杀就能抗日么？太可笑了。甚至于性，王力宏也没有这个勇气。他们压根就没有认为汤维能够全身而退，连她给她父亲的信都烧掉了，所谓事成后送她去英国完全是无稽之谈。王力宏那句我不会让你受伤害更是让全场笑掉大牙。另外影片在Minneapoli放映的影院风格跟电影里的影院也出奇的一致。影片里的影院也是有看台的，而且也提到了有600个座位，甚至最后英文字幕还提到了uptown cinema, 真是非常的巧合。据说在纽约放映的Lincoln Center也很古色古香。整部电影主要说普通话，偶尔穿插上海话和广东话。英文字幕。总体上我打4.3/5吧。
另外最近的电影Eastern Promises值得推荐，英国版无间道，很有拿奥斯卡的潜力，今年到现在有这个潜力的也就eastern promises, 3:10 to yuma,ratatoullie和bourne了吧。stardust, hairspray和300可能能拿个小奖。summer那一堆小孩玩意儿估计统统没戏,transformers, spiderman铁定是不行的了，今年的加勒比海盗和shrek也是相当令人相当失望，哈利伯特更加想都不要想。In the Valley of Elah比eastern promises感觉稍差一些。Across the Universe我也就给她打2分，不知所云，那些色彩我也不觉得好看。
  October 02 南美和中东的城市建设在中国的城市高楼林立，马路宽阔的同时，我们也应该关注一下同样处在发展中的南美的城市规划，似乎能够找到在美国找不到的城市的感觉。 下面是巴西的圣保罗，虽然没有特别高的房子，但是楼群的密度和规模令人叹为观止，有东京的感觉。
与之相呼应，阿根廷的布伊诺斯艾丽丝的这条单向的马路有12条车道。
如果说南美的建筑普遍比较旧，中东的迪拜和多哈则是现代建筑的代表。下面一张是多哈propose的建筑，500米高，非常futuristic.
多哈的一座已经快建好的88层的建筑，Dubai Tower
多哈还propose了一座600米的羊角一样的楼。
而迪拜无疑将是未来几年400米以上建筑的集中营。在skyscraper city这个网站的supertall版面，每一页都有一半是迪拜在建或者propose的超高建筑。5年以后，唯一能够拿楼高作为城市特色的将只有迪拜一个，因为那个时候400米(大约是金茂大厦的高度)在那儿将只是非常一般的高度。 迪拜世界第一高楼(818米)目前的进展
迪拜并不满足这座金茂大厦两倍高的建筑，已经propose新的世界第一高楼，1050米的Al Burj.
这张图上，除了已经建得差不多的Burj Dubai, 台北101显得很是可怜，帝国大厦和埃菲尔铁塔已经成了矬子了。 迪拜的房子不只追求高和多，也追求美感，下面是一座在建的楼，501米 迪拜的Dancing Towers
迪拜的一座apartment, 已经approve. 516米。
迪拜的Dubai Towers, proposed, 这一堆沙漠植物一样的楼最高的一座94层。
这个已经快建好了
从这张进展图也能看出Dubai在摩天大楼的建设上是多么dominant。而且迪拜并不是只有几座特别高的楼，还有很多很多300多米的楼在建以做铺垫。 而中国未来几年建设最快的将是广州。610米的广州电视塔将是中国最高的建筑了。 另外东京和莫斯科终于开始跟风了。东京虽然楼群非常密集，但是一直以来最高的楼就没超过300米，现在终于要建610米的Sumida Tower了。塔的风格跟东京精致的格调很一致。
莫斯科的Russia Tower也有612米，但是不好看，看着像朝鲜的那个什么饭店。不过似乎610米是现在的标准高度了。最先提出这个高度的应该是芝加哥的Chicago Spire.
October 01 Texas真tmd穷Poorest places in the United States
more than 3000 population
All locations
|
|
|
