我常讀的英文雜誌

高中時老師會指定學生閱讀長春藤英語或是Times雜誌鍛鍊英語，從那時開始我養成了定期閱讀英文雜誌的習慣。直到今天這些雜誌都是我得以越過國內媒體，進一步接觸最新訊息的管道。

尤其美國的雜誌價廉質佳，可惜台灣的空運版昂貴。等將來iPad這種eReader成熟後，我絕對會跳過台灣的代理商直接訂購。



我的啟發雜誌是〈Money〉，高中時甚至還剪貼它的文章。

〈Money〉是針對美國中產階級的個人理財雜誌。內容主要討論管理退休金、買賣房地產、稅務、家庭財務管理、以及股票明牌等等。這些主題對當時還是高中生的我來說十分遙遠，究竟為何我會這麼熱衷也很奇怪。

雖然我讀得似懂非懂，但〈Money〉打開了我對金錢、股市、投資工具等等的認識。



其次開始閱讀的是同集團的〈Fortune〉。〈Fortune〉主要針對MBA及商管人士，讀者群比〈Money〉富一些，比〈Forbes〉窮一些。〈Fortune〉誕生於管理專業化與美式MBA教育發軔的時期，因此與Goldman Sachs、GE、P&G等公司互相推崇，同時崛起。

當初我愛看〈Fortune〉純粹是嚮往有錢人的生活。〈Fortune〉的特色是有許多個人故事，包括至少一篇成功人士跟一篇失敗人士的故事，像小說一樣引人入勝。其他主題包括企業建言、公司轉型、旅行指南、還有政治動態，以及必不可少的股票明牌等等。

〈Fortune〉每年還會出幾個專題，包括『最適合工作的公司』、『最受敬仰公司』、『成長最快公司』等等。雖然這些排名沒什麼營養或公信力，但也是茶餘飯後閑聊的好話題。

這幾年〈Fortune〉走下坡，似乎對Web 2.0以及金融海嘯之後的世界應接不瑕，老態盡顯。之前Apple的專題居然連Steve Jacobs都沒有專訪到，反而好為人師的巴菲特不斷出現，令人厭煩。



大學開始看〈經濟學人〉，從此成為最愛。

〈經濟學人〉優點無數，值得專文討論，這裡簡單介紹。

首先是它是英國出版，因此有美國之外的觀點，常常做歐盟、非洲國家及亞洲的專題報導。去年底有鑒於亞洲的崛起，新增了亞洲的專欄『Byan Tree』。特別是它對台灣有深入了解。少則每個月，多則每一期都有台灣的新聞，是少數寫得出蔡英文、賴幸媛、吳伯雄等名字的外文雜誌。

其次，〈經濟學人〉的英文精練有創意，適合進階英文讀者。很多人看到『經濟』兩字就覺得枯燥乏味。再翻翻內文，發現裡面英國腔英文比較敖口，因而對它心生恐懼。其實〈經濟學人〉最合年輕人的胃口，因為它的主筆辛辣、幽默、直接、富感情、同時又自由﹝liberal﹞，。

再其次，〈經濟學人〉捍衛言論自由、民主、全球化，與自由資本主義不遺餘力。〈經濟學人〉大概是少數每逢六四就會戳一戳大陸，說到中東就要提一下歧視女性，同時堅定支持大麻自由化、性交易除罪化的主流媒體。可說是堂堂正正的社會自由派、經濟保守派﹝socially liberal、economically conservative ﹞的雜誌。

過去一年是〈經濟學人〉的顛峰，因為它約兩年前就開始疾呼美國的赤字過高、人民債務比例過高，有經濟崩盤之虞。當時經濟一片大好，股票大漲，因此沒人理它。在書店它夾在一堆看漲經濟的雜誌之間，總是顯得格外的突兀。

直到金融海嘯襲來，美國房地產、信用同時破產，〈經濟學人〉一語成讖，總算苦盡甘來。現在〈經濟學人〉揚眉吐氣，連帶著封面也越做也精采，可說是在書報業一片蕭條中，少數逆勢成長的雜誌。



唸法學院後開始看〈GQ〉﹝Gentlemen Quarterly﹞。這本有台灣版。

讀〈GQ〉當然是因為法學院重視儀容，所以這本對菜鳥律師是很好的教科書。〈GQ〉最多廣告、時裝、器材情報、外表改造、飲食、和正妹照。不過它最值得看的是個人專訪，通常採訪當時的代表性男性，是一個歷史悠久的專欄。不論歐巴馬或是柯林伊斯威特，因為知道讀者群大多是男性﹝man to man﹞，因此常展現出平常不為人知的樣子。



另一個出社會後常看的雜誌是〈Wired〉。〈Wired〉內文不脫宅男關心的器材、正妹、電動等主題。它的強項是新興科技，常介紹一些仍在研究期的科技或前衛觀念，是我拋棄〈Nature〉與〈Science〉之後了解最新科學的管道。

來美國後，才發現好用的東西

1. 雷射印表機

2. 蕃茄

3. 乾洗店

4. 免運費

5. thesaurus.reference.com

6. 大沙拉碗

7. 天氣預報

8. pepperidge 巧克力餅乾

9. 蘋果

10. 累積點數

11. 手機相機

12. 計時器

13. 玻璃量杯

14. 太陽眼鏡

15. 西生菜

16. ziploc袋

17. 排汗T-shirt

18. Wikipedia

19. 烤箱

20. 膠底皮鞋

21. 義大利麵

22. 刮鬍膏

23. 杏鮑菇

繼續增加中....

紐約的洋基球場

紐約的Time Square總是人山人海。大部分是外地來的遊客﹝但有哪一個紐約人不是遊客？﹞當我和Leslie在悶熱的街上發愁該如何消磨晚上時，忽然聽到有人大 喊："Yankees tickets! Tonight's ticket! All sold out!"

我的眼睛一亮，跑去問叫賣的黑人今天的先發投手是誰。兩個黑人討論了一下，說："Chen Ming-Wang"。原來是王建民在主場對Baltimore Orioles的比賽。小弟聞之大樂，問他票價多少。"$45 each"。媽呀，這會不會太貴。Leslie出馬殺價仍無功而返。黑人不願意把票秀給我們看，只說票的face value $65元，是在三壘後方的好位置。於是小弟只好忍痛掏錢。等到交完錢拿到票，才發現每一張face value只有$5元！被黑人坑了！紐約果然吃人！

買完票後與久違的新婚夫妻科宏/怡棻在吉野家碰面。久違重逢，相談甚歡，大家互相安慰彼此沒什麼變。小倆口對票價昂貴也頗不已為然，但仍不影響我去洋基球場的興致勃勃。

沒料到買票卻是苦難的開始。先是好不容易才擠上了惡名昭彰的紐約地下鐵，沙丁魚般的4 train裡面各色人種擠成一團。到了Bronx才發現球場擠在其他建築物之間。球場外各種氣味混雜：餐廳的pizza味、車子的油煙味、香菸味以及紐約 最出名的，謎樣的不知名臭味。人潮繞著球場無意義的轉動，彷彿折磨自己是朝聖過程的一部份。球場混亂的入場動線也說明了這個球場的歷史。

我一直心中忐忑買到的是假票，所幸最後還是順利入場。坐定後稍加喘息，才第一次好好端詳這個球場。

如同紐約的其他建築，洋基球場是窄高、強調垂質感的構造。球場內各個球員的動態可以看得很清楚。令人失望的，洋基球場內的設施都很破落、老舊。場內的走道狹小，飲料攤與熱食區悶熱而擁擠。地板黝黑黏滑。好像放大版的老台北市立棒球場。

坐在我附近的觀眾有老有少，大多在懶洋洋的喝啤酒、看報紙、打blackberry。相較於我去過的另外三個球場﹝Angels、Orioles、Nationals﹞，這裡的觀眾少了該有的興奮感，或是家庭同樂的溫馨；反而有一種習以為常、自行其是的疏離感。

我對這些細節特別仔細觀察，是因為這趟紐約之旅對我來說，除了旅遊外，也將決定我畢業後要在哪裡工作。加州的事務所給了我offer (放煙火！)，但紐約也有面試等著我。我排回在加州的天氣、人情跟laid back的態度與紐約的城市生活之間。這次紐約行將確定我在紐約與加州之間的取捨。

正當我對洋基球場深感失望時，音樂響起，包括王建民在內的球員們進場了。場內的氣氛忽然熱烈起來。球迷的眼睛也醒了，好像球場活了起來。這種從安靜衝上熱烈的變化速度之快，反應紐約人對刺激馬不停蹄的需求。

球賽大家都有看，我就不詳述了。場內最引我注意的，不是洋基的大牌球星或是王建民，而是報球員名字的播音員。我不認識他。這是一個老邁的聲音。 不花俏、也不特別有磁性。不急不徐，聽得出這個聲音已經播報了許多年，唸過許多來自不同國家的不同名字。這是我在紐約的這幾天中，唯一一個不爭取我的注意 力，卻讓我不得不傾聽的聲音。

從這個聲音開始，我慢慢感受到洋基球場的魅力所在。洋基球場的魅力在它的累積。每一位洋基球員舉手投足都有大牌球星的自信。但從高高的觀眾席上 看下去，他們都十分渺小。不論是外野一字列開的退休號碼，或是洋基的26座冠軍杯，都在在顯示這個球場不容許平庸的表現。不管是洋基的球員、敵對球員或是 裁判，都像是在過往洋基幽靈的注目下打球。每一個背號上都背負著沉重的歷史期待。

洋基球迷對每一球的關注也是我見過最高的。每一個出局數球迷都有不同的反應。王建民第一局失三分，而且整場的狀況都不太穩定。我的後方一直有美 國人大喊："Come on！Chen！" 把王建民的姓名中間當成first name了。洋基打者都有自己的出場音樂。Abreau的是充滿拉丁風情的salsa曲風，Jeter是花花公子般的抒情音樂，而A-Rod則是外星人感 很重的電音。

比賽的第一個高潮是Cabrera自中外野直傳本壘的刺殺，球迷激動的大喊："Melky！Melky！Melky！"。 王下場時，仍然得到全場的起立歡送。不過看得出來王對自己表現不滿意。八局時全場為上場的中繼投手Chamberlain歡呼，有些球迷甚至起立鼓掌。當 時的我還沒聽過這位投手，很訝異球迷給這個新人的禮遇。隨後Chamerlain以97 miles的快速球連續解決掉三位打者，意興風發。全場吼叫："Joba！Joba！Joba！"連地板都為之震動。

不過我最期待，也終於看到的，是"Enter the Sandman"，第九局穿著背號42號的男人入場。當音樂聲響起，Rivera自牛棚跑步入場，全場像炸了般起立鼓譟。Rivera的每一個好球都讓球 迷握拳喊叫。Leslie問我："這麼好！他每一次都有英雄式的出場嗎？"

最後，Rivera把關不成，勝利由Jeter的內野安打獲得。場中放起了Frank Sinatra的"New York New York"。球迷像毒品藥效結束一樣，伸懶腰，快速的收拾東西離開。但Leslie的問題卻在我擠地鐵回家時的心中盤旋。這就是紐約的魅力吧？絕大部分人 沒沒無聞，每日在都市叢林中奮戰，努力佔住自己的一塊領域。為的是有朝一日可以脫離單調的生活，成為那萬中無一的英雄。因為紐約之大，所以榮耀或恥辱都加 倍深刻。經歷過紐約的尺度的人，不論是被剝削或是歡愉，出了紐約便只覺得平庸。

就像Sinatra唱的："If I can make it here，I'll make it anywhere"。在紐約失敗，是在最困難的地方失敗；在紐約成功，就是在世界成功。我心裡想著："王建民，加油啊！＂請讓我相信，一個台灣孩子，不需 要扭曲自己，也可以在任何地方占有一席之地。

2007新雪

一瞬間城市變得可愛

車行緩慢起來，路燈溫暖起來

枯樹間是白色地毯

上車前還得把雪從車上撥下

成千上萬的鴨子，在白雪中聒聒叫，越過波多馬克河，向南方飛去

即使看過再多次，當第一層雪飄下時，應該還是會讓人駐足靜觀吧

Another letter to Bennington

Dear Mr. Edgar,


You entered apartment #1419 to repair the dryer today. You left a working order that states “check dryer. It is blowing hot air.” Indeed the dryer will always blow hot air when you first turn it on. But the hot air will not continue for more than 5 minutes. To see it yourself, I suggest you throw a wet towel in the dryer, turn it on, and then come back in 5 minutes. I guarantee you the dryer will be shut down when you return. A dryer that blows hot air for less than 5 minutes is as useful as a toilet that cannot flush.


I would appreciate you repair the dryer to its full condition. This has been the fifth times I file a repair request about the dryer. And every time, the maintenance persons seem to leave the property in a hurry when they feel the first breeze of hot air. Please stay a little longer. Do not leave until you witnessed the dryer function for more than 5 minutes. Feel free to drink the beverage in the refrigerator while you are waiting. I have no doubt the dryer will not perform any better when you are present than what I’ve seen in the past few months, that is, it will not work for more than 5 minutes. As unpleasant as the recent weather is, it is ironic that a continuous hot air could be found everywhere but the place that needed it most--my dryer.


And if you confirmed that the dryer could not function for more than 5 minutes; and you realized even with your expertise, the wicked dryer still refuse to be repaired, I appreciate you replace the dryer. Particularly, I prefer you replace it with a dryer that could work a full cycle.


Thank you for your work.



Sincerely,


麥可青蛙

雖敗猶榮 摔手套好MAN啊 之 看王建民記

6/18，酷夏。華盛頓DC，父親節，大家去看棒球。

等待了許久，王建民終於要到DC跟Nationals隊比賽了。

又恰逢週末，於是我們同學會的人前夜便合力做了許多海報出來。

包括"No. Wang Arm" "TaiWang" 還有沒做出來的"He is Wangderful"

比賽雖是下午一點開始，但我們十一點半便到球場看球員練球。

在路上我們所做的國旗、海報、跟臉上的彩繪都受到相當的矚目。

召集人Phil把他的紅襪隊T-shirt用白紙寫上40號跟Wang，引起許多紅襪隊球員的不滿，

經過時都拍拍他的肩，說:"That's wrong man. That's wrong."

也有許多外國人問我們關於王建民跟中華民國的事情。

球場上令人意外的，Yankees的fan非常多，幾乎跟Nationals的平分秋色。

而且球員球衣多半是Yankees的，Nationals似乎還沒有培養出太多球星出來，大部分都是Soriano。

陸陸續續也看到許多台灣其他的同學會出現，都各自做了許多海報標語。

看來這是大華府地區，繼馬英九訪問之後難得的盛事，大家都傾力想給王建民主場般的歡迎。

開場前20分鐘，王建民與Posada現身牛棚練投。

我們一群台灣學生在牛棚旁鬼叫半天，只換來王建民掀一下帽子致意。

看來我們帶給王的是尷尬甚於光榮? 沒辦法，這就是成為巨星必經的路程，要忍受球迷的追逐。

不過他倒是叫練投捕手送我們一顆球。

我們的活躍引來了東森新聞記者的採訪。

不過記者似乎是主跑華府新聞的，而不是體育線的，居然叫我們對著鏡頭大喊："阿扁加油"??

寫了這麼多，還沒寫到比賽。

不過比賽大家都看了，這裡只提一些小觀察。

Nationals回到DC的兩年以來，今天的票房破了紀錄。顯示棒球真的回到DC了。

雙方的投手表現都非常好，對方先發的球數、好球率其實跟王平分秋色。

節奏也因此打得非常快，看得出來王今天的狀況很好、信心滿滿。

王的球速大約是維持在91-94跟81-84這兩各區間。對方的球速則是72-74跟86-88之間。

其實今天的變速球(80幾mile的那種)投得非常有效果，幾乎都可以搶到好球數。

球賽的高潮始於八局下半。

從我的角度可以看到王在休息室哩，已經把外套披在肩上，準備離開休息室了。

忽然停在休息室的裡面一陣子，接著就看到王扛著球棒準備打擊。

我們幾個人都面面相覷: "不會吧? 他還要再投一局?" 畢竟上一局他的壞球數就開始增加了。

不過王的最後一次上場打擊，居然ㄠ到了兩好三壞。

我背後的Nats球迷就對著Nats的投手大喊：

"Damn it! He's a pitcher! An American League pitcher! Throw him strikes!"

接著當然王又上場投了第九局。結果大家都知道了。

第九局其實王投得節奏非常快、球速也催回94。

那依球投出之後，王看到球的行徑角度之後便轉身回休息室。

Nats的球員則衝出來歡迎打出全壘打的隊員，全場的Nats球迷也都跳起來鼓掌。

我們當然是矇著臉不敢相信。

我看到王筆直的走進休息室，脫下手套後用力的砸向牆壁。

接著坐在他習慣的角落，另一個人過來安慰他。

比賽結束，放完煙火，洋基隊離開，我們也去Stadium station搭metro。

一夥人除了精疲力進，被晒乾了之外，總是覺得有點意猶未盡。

路上許多人在討論戰績、Torre的調度，下週Nats跟Red Sox的比賽等等。

我聽到一個老先生，對一位中年婦女說: "Thank you for your gift. I had a great father's day."

(大概是Nats的球迷吧)

我想兩隊的球迷都會同意，即使這場球有輸有贏，仍然是一個精采的下午。

即使王敗投了，我仍然可以清楚看見王更上一層樓的企圖心，與更上一層樓的潛力。

週一也可以重新拾起衝勁上班去。

Another complaint to Bennington ﹝給房東的一封抱怨信(2)﹞

Dear Amy,


Unfortunately I had to complain to you about relatively the same issue in such a short period of time. As I type this letter, I am again locked out of my door waiting for the locksmith.
It is midnight now, so I do understand you do not provide spare key during this period of time. That is not the issue here.


The fact is as below: yesterday I requested a repair of my dryer and the door light. The workers apparently efficiently finished the job today before I come home. Unfortunately, when they left, they locked both the upper lock and the lower lock. I only have the key to the lower lock since I moved in. Thus I am locked out now.


You may ask, if I didn’t have the key to the upper lock, why didn’t I request a key for the upper lock before this ridiculous accident happened? In fact I did request a key at the time when I first moved in. I (orally) requested a key from Hamid (the leasing manager), who walked through the apartment with me and promised to provide the missing keys to me (and my two other roommates) before he turned over the apartment. Those keys were never produced and I never bothered to re-request the key. Instead I only lock the lower lock ever since. Locking only the lower lock has never caused me any problem, until now, four days after the first time I called the locksmith.


If you (or Hamid) argue that I should have re-requested the keys and put the request into written documents, and if you argue that I have no proof that I’ve ever requested those missing keys, I would not be able to counter-argue because your statement is true. I do not have any evidence except the fact that none of the residents of Apt# 1419 ever received the key of the upper lock (therefore we couldn’t possibly locked the door from outside). I have no concrete support of my request of keys, except the common sense that residents would have requested all applicable keys before they move in.


You may find my recurring complaints annoying, or even suspicious. But I assure you that I do not enjoy being locked out of my apartment, at the midnight, waiting for the locksmith for almost an hour and a half by now. I do have personal business that I found more important than asserting frivolous claims. And I do hope you agree that the best way to prevent this kind of situation happening again (to any future resident) is not by holding the responsibility on the residents to relentlessly pressure the leasing office to generate the keys, but by holding the responsibility on the leasing office to spontaneously provide all keys before residents move in,.
Because I have never obtained the key to the lock locked by Bennington’s workers, I hereby request the reimbursement of the locksmith fee $160 (late night + difficult lock). Receipt and work order provided upon request.


I would also like to note that Shawn has been very friendly and helpful in this incidence. She could testify that I was indeed locked out of my door twice in 4 days, that I did not create these claims just to deduct my rent.


Sincerely,


麥可青蛙

Poor Bennington Management﹝寫給房東的抱怨信(1)﹞

過去一星期內兩次被鎖在門外，花了我$170元大洋開鎖。非常痛心。

話說我剛從紐約回到DC時，在房間門口才赫然發現房間門被由內往外鎖了。這十分懸疑，因為房間門沒有鑰匙，所以我出門時從不關房間門，更不會鎖 房間門。在一陣敲敲打打之後，由於已近半夜，Bennington(我的公寓)沒有工人在，只好找鎖匠開門。鎖匠花了兩秒鐘開門，要價$85。

這就算了。不管為什麼我的房間門會被鎖起來，至少這不是Bennington的責任。

星期六我出門忘了帶公寓鑰匙，回家時已是PM 4:40分。我跟Front desk要我家的備用鑰匙，那個死女人居然不給我備用鑰匙！她說因為已經過了PM 4:30，manager都已經下班了，她不能給我鑰匙。我氣得手腳發抖。不幸兩位室友一在波士頓一在台灣，最後只好又找鎖匠。又是$85元大洋。

回到家看當初簽的契約，也沒看到哪裏寫 office hour之後就不能拿鑰匙了。話說回來，備用鑰匙不就是在office hour之後，大家想回家的時候用的嗎？哪有人會在office hour回家的？總之又讓我不禁對美國管理的低素質低效率大聲罵一次幹。

* * * *

以下是我的complaint letter:

To whom it may concern,

I am a resident of Bennington apartment. This is a complaint of the poor service of the front desk. Yesterday, 2006/01/07, at roughly PM 4:40, I asked the front desk to provide me the spare key of my apartment. I had used the spare key once before. The lady at the front desk, whose name I don't know, refused. She told me that there is a policy that after office hour (which ends at PM 4:30 on Saturdays), when the managers are off-duty, she cannot give me the spare key. Eventually the only thing the lady can do is to give me numbers of the locksmith. I had to call the locksmith to enter my apartment, at the cost of $85 (receipt provided upon request).

First, I failed to find that policy on my contract. The only relevant agreement I found was on p.4 of the Resident Service Directory "Who hasn't found themselves locked out of their apartment, usually with six bags of groceries in hand and a phone ringing inside? If it happens to you, we'll be glad to give you a key, though we'll need to see some proper identification first...." The language suggests a strong willingness to provide the spare key. In fact, the language suggests a scene NOT during office hours. Nothing in the text mentioned that the spare key is only provided during office hours.

Second, assuming such policy does exist, then what's the point of having a spare key? Residents usually do not need a spare key until AFTER office hours. They need to WORK during office hours. They usually go home AFTER office hours. The front desk is supposed to exist to serve residents to their convenience. But the purpose of the assumed policy provides convenience only to the administration, not to the residents. I doubt how many residents expect that they can only get their spare keys during office hours.

Assuming such internal policy exists, I would withdraw my complaint to the lady at the front desk, who was merely strictly obeying the policy, and not doing anything else.

Unless there is any evidence that shows the "office hours" policy was agreed upon, I request a reimbursement of my $85 payment. Reciept provided upon request.

麥可青蛙

Snow!

Aaron and I were studying for our finals in the library. Aaron stressed out and went out smoking.

He came back and told me: "Hey! It's snowing."

He wasn't too excited because he's from NY. New Yorkers never get excited.

I said: "What? Seriously?" I was really excited because snow is rare in my country, Taiwan, a tropical island.

I heard about it. People talk about it. I know it's coming. I just didn't expect it to come so soon (I mean the snow, not the final).

So I ran down stairs, opened the door, and saw the snow blew over the city. This is my first urban snow. I've never seen snow in a city.

It was thrilling. Almost supernatural.

Library is like underwear, they feel all the same when you're in it. Studying in the library sometimes confuses me of my location. Am I studying in Taiwan? In California? Why am I always studying?

But the dark street and the omnipresent white powder that I ran into, suddenly transcend me to another world. The real world. The deep dark sky that seems to hide any emotion and the ice cold breeze that seems to wipe all feelings. I was stunned by the beauty of the nature, and ashamed of how senselessly I've been living. Dazingly I stood in the snow.

Until my head hurts. It was a little chilly so I walked back to the library.

Aaron looked at me with interest: "If snow excites you so much now; you will be overwhelmed when you see the white Christmas."

I said: "Once in a while is not bad, but not too often will be better" (I mean the snow, not the final).

* * * * * * * *

Just today I learned two good friends of mine have lost their close relatives. My best wish to them and to their family.

We are never strong enough to bear the lost of a family.

Although separated, we will continue the journey they left to us, and, I believe, they will continue theirs. And one day we will reunite.

Solitaire

Although studying by myself for 4-6 hours is lonely and, not surprisingly, boring; there is a captivation in it. Studying hard is like running a marathon, it is an invaluable luxury to focus on one single goal, to pursue that goal with one's whole body and mind, and to enjoy finishing the job all by oneself.

* * *

Maintaining a blog may be the last thing a 1L needs in his busy schedule. But, nonetheless, as the law school materials heavily emphasize logic and intelluctuality, I need a channel to release my sensations.