"Easier to Run" (by Linkin Park)

Nike Free Everyday +2

This new model from Nike is soft and light like socks. Definitely easier to run, and I even feel like I can fly!! Haven't yet run but taken just a walk. Perhaps start running after getting a Nike + iPod Sport Kit.

"Welcome to the Bay" (by Kero One)

For Kero One, the Bay means San Francisco, but this Bay is the other side of Pacific Ocean, Yokohama.

I'm back, and so is African Festa, with 34 African embassies, 60 NGOs, sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Yokohama City.


One can get a free poster, buy African accessories or enjoy a live music concert

and street music performances here

and there,

Or get an African drum lesson.

But, wherever I am, can't start a day without a Starbucks coffee!! Here's one at Chinatown. (Oh, and Ethiopian embassy was selling its coffee, too.)

and Chinese supper. (I did have African cuisine too!!)

"Right Round" (by Flo Rida)

you spin my head right round, right round

It's been a couple month since we moved in a new apartment, and slowly started purchasing new furniture for it, one by one like a ceiling fan in the picture above. My wife and I will cover all items of our long shopping list hopefully by the end of this year.

On the other hand, I'll keep some "Pandra's boxes" for this year's hot summer night thrill. (And I won't remember which items I enclosed in each box by then. )

Pandra's Boxes, or Panda's?

Anybody who want Korean cuisine or such a thrill are welcome.

Thanks, Mom

Since its sweet, gospel-like mood, it ain't hard to imagine R&B has songs written for mom. "A Song for Mama" (by Boyz II Men), a soundtrack from the movie "Soul Food" (1997), is a perfect song. And K-Ci & Jojo's "Momma's Song" alike.

But, HipHop does have songs for mother, too. Kanye West's "Hey Mama" is a great example. Black Eyed Peas' "Hey Mama", a song famous for a TV commercial of iPod, and will.i.am's "I Got It From My Mama" aren't such. The song titles are a bit misleading.

Anyways, the bottom line is, everybody loves mom.

While You Were Sleeping

Golden Week is over.

This year's GW has 5 consecutive holidays, incl. weekend, in a row. So, before the holidays begin, I bought a dozen books from Amazon.com. I know, it's a bit ambitious...

Well, here's how it turned out.
On the very first day, my parents visited my new aparment.
Then, I got a cold (not swine flu) for next couple sunny days.
Followed by rainy days. Period.
I've finished only one paperback, and been reading two more.

As watching Sandra Bullock's "While You Were Sleeping" (1995) this evening, I realized the holidays are over while I was sleeping. And here's my favorite quote from the movie. Lucy (Sandra Bullock)'s father said to his daughter,

"Life doesn't always turn out the way you plan."

CHINDIA

The long-awaited "Slumdog Millionaire" has come to theaters in Japan. AT LAST!! The film was so powerful and energetic. As watching it, I really wanted to visit India again. This time to find stunning Latika (Freida Pinto)! :)

Interestingly, the rivalry between China and India seems present in motion pictures as well. Here in Tokyo "Red Cliff Part II" is competing against Slumdog for the top box office. John Woo is definitely my favorite director, but a single 2-hour movie is enough. I rather wait until the DVD box set will be on sale. And then watch the series comfortably at home.

Geopolitics, business and...

I prefer a pure love story (like Slumdog) to a war movie (like Red Cliff). Born as a Virgoan, it is written... Though I haven't watched the Chinese one, it seems like there are some remarkable features in each. Slumdog shows the contradictory (i.e. chaotic) situations in India: the rich and the poor, Islam and Hinduism, etc. Seemingly, on the other hand, there are no such things in Chinese films.

Plus, the violence of Slumdog somehow reminded me of that of Hong Kong (esp. John Woo's) movies. Hope it's not a heritage from the British colonialism, though. One definite difference is that Slumdog symbolizes Individualism while Red Cliff Collectivism. Am I making the comparison too simple?

The Global City

Global city ranking 2009, Mercer's annual survey, was released last month. The two rankings of Quality of Living and Infrastructure are not only useful resources for business travellers and expats but also information for leisure travellers and students studying abroad, pride for city residents, and perhaps reference for bidding for the host city of the 2016 Olympic Games.

International Olympic Committee's Evaluation Commission has been visiting the four candidate cities, and making assessment. According to Mercer, however, Tokyo is best among the four. Japan's capital looks competitive given the similar results with London's. Tokyo is the 35th best city for living and the 12th for having good access to electricity, water availability, telephone, mail, public transport, traffic congestion and airport while London, the host city in 2012, is ranked at 38th and 8th respectively. Tokyo is followed by Chicago (44th and 28th each) and Madrid (48th and 43rd respectively).

Does the turnout indicate Rio de Janeiro have the least competence? Not quite. Last year's host, Beijing, is at the 113rd of the Quality of Living ranking. So, Rio de Janeiro still has a good chance. They will all meet in mid-June for briefing, and the final decision will be made on October 2, 2009 in Copenhagen. In other words, we have a plenty of time to speculate. Decided which real estate to buy?