Acknowledgement
鸣谢
In translating this lengthy article, The author received formidable help and support from many pals on the forum, hence the author would like to take this opportunity to express his sincere gratitude to them. They have generously offered valuable advice by which the author’s burden has been shouldered and from which his inspiration stems. In particular, the author wants to thank nEo, Zhuanggong, Epicure, Sparker,to name just a few. He benefits a great deal from them no matter when, in the past, at present or even in future. Any inappropriate part in his translation must not be to blame on them, but on the author himself. On the contrary, considering that they unselfishly offer their backup when they themselves have their hands full, any gratefulness rendered them should not be considered as flattery.
For those who comment on this banal work, the author hopes as ever that they speek freely and present their opinions, positions and critique regarding this translation without any reservation . That is the same thing with which the author is once preoccupied.
Thanks again to those pals for taking their precious time to read the author’s work.
在完成这篇冗长译文的过程中，作者得到了许多论坛网友的鼎立襄助，在此衷心地向他们表示感谢，他们慷慨提供的宝贵建议给予翻译此文的作者巨大的慰藉和灵感。作者特别要感谢nEo,庄公，Epicure，Sparker等一些人，他们过去或现在以及将来都将使作者收益非浅。而译文中任何不当之处都与他们毫无关系，一概由作者自己负责。相反，对于他们在百忙中能抽出空来支援作者翻译工作的无私精神，作者的任何感谢之辞都绝非恭维奉承。
对于点评拙作的网友，作者也一如既往地希望他们能毫无保留地阐述自己的意见、立场和批评。这与作者当初曾热衷于的事情如出一辙。
再次感谢那些花宝贵时间阅读作者拙作的朋友。
Special Report
Russia
Richer, bolder—and sliding back
更富庶、更大胆——但倒行逆施
Jul 13th 2006 | NALCHIK
From The Economist print edition
The G8 leaders meeting in St Petersburg this weekend will find Vladimir Putin’s Russia assertive, oil-fired and authoritarian
本周在圣彼德堡举行的G8首脑会晤将昭示出弗拉基米尔·普京统治下的俄罗斯是个刚愎自用、石油驱动和独裁专制 [1] 的国度
SHOES from Lobb’s, the poshest boot-maker in London, were not available in Yekaterinburg until Igor Markin opened his shop last year. It sits on the edge of a park that once belonged to the tsars, not far from where the last of them was murdered. Because of its defence industries, Yekaterinburg was a closed city for much of the Soviet era. In the 1990s it was notorious, even by Russian standards, for its gangsters. These days, says Mr Markin, Yekaterinburg’s highest-rollers often spend $50,000 or more in his store.
总部位于伦敦的制靴商Lobb’s [2] ，是专做奢侈型鞋子的品牌，过去从未在俄罗斯的叶卡特琳堡开辟销路（或者可以翻成过去从未涉足俄罗斯的叶卡特琳堡的市场），直到伊格尔·马尔金（Igor Markin）去年在该市开店，这种局面才得以改观。该店坐落在一家公园的周边地带，过去这里是属于罗曼诺夫家族（沙皇家族）的领地，离末代沙皇被谋杀的地点不远。由于叶卡特琳堡的国防工业是其一大特色，因此在苏联时期的大半岁月中该城与外界接触寥寥。上世纪90年代，即便是按照俄罗斯的标准来看，该城也因为其猖獗的黑帮活动而名声狼籍。据马尔金称，如今叶卡特琳堡的大款们经常来他的店消费，而且出手阔绰，营业额时常能超过50，000美圆。
继续阅读“[2006.07.13][Special]Russia: Richer, bolder—and sliding back”
WINSTON CHURCHILL, that famous half-American, once said that his mother’s countrymen could always be counted on to do the right thing, after exhausting the available alternatives. His words would apply well to the Republican Party just now. Having lengthily lionised “America’s mayor”, Rudy Giuliani, looked longingly at Reagan-lite Fred Thompson, flirted with millionaire Mitt Romney and sung along with preacherman Mike Huckabee, the party’s voters have sensibly plumped for John McCain, the only Republican whom pollsters give a chance of keeping the White House out of Democratic hands (see article). It is possible—just—to imagine Mr McCain failing to carry the nomination after Super Tuesday, which saw him win three times as many delegates as his nearest rival, Mr Romney, who suspended his campaign. But that would now require spectacular intervention by the Almighty on behalf of the admittedly pious Mr Huckabee.
