Overdevelopment

They demolished my favourite food court Ming Tien for some condo development.The days My kid and I had good street food for meals is over.Last dinner at Ming Tien Food Court.Now it's in ruins.

Kazuo Ishiguro Nobel Prize Lecture

I should say here that I have, on a number of other occasions, learned crucial lessons from the voices of singers. I refer here less to the lyrics being sung, and more to the actual singing. As we know, a human voice in song is capable of expressing an unfathomably complex blend of feelings. Over the years, specific aspects of my writing have been influenced by, among others, Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, Emmylou Harris, Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen, Gillian Welch and my friend and collaborator Stacey Kent. Catching something in their voices, I've said to myself: 'Ah yes, that's it. That's what I need to capture in that scene. Something very close to that.' Often it's an emotion I can't quite put into words, but there it is, in the singer's voice, and now I've been given something to aim for. 

The emotional evocativeness of singers has been the muse and source of inspiration for the characterisation of authors.

Both Toshi and Yutaka Ozaki have that definitive mastery of nuances of emotions in their singing.I think Cui Jian voice works best in songs of rebelliousness as he has that spunk in him.

Anthem of student blues

Don't you see me pouring over my books
Burning the midnight oil 
and drinking mugs of bad watered down coffee

cause while the rest of the family is sleeping soundly
I'm doing last minute cramming
for that dreaded Exam at which my future hangs on a thread
I've got a case of the exam blues
It's hitting me so hard remembering the add math rules
looking at equation and formulae
is making my eyes dizzy 
I would love to lie down on my soft cozy bed
and have a quick shut eye
but my heart is pounding for I've forgotten all the teacher has drilled into my skull
and if I blank out looking at the question paper tomorrow
That black out will knock my plans for my future apart
Help I've got a case of the exam blues
Give me some exam tips I pray
make the exam as easy as I say
I'll even give the marker if I could the pocket money I'm paid
when all I need is another paper to pass
My passport to the university will be assured
If I can cram in all that knowledge of a year into my brain
How i wish I wasn't sleeping with my eyes open in class
A little more attention would have reduce this stress
please let me ace this paper with smooth sailing
I'll pray on my knees for the whole next year.
I'm going crazy with this case of exam blues
Blues blues blues

Kazuo Ishigoro Interview

"one of the things that's interested me always is how we live in small worlds and big worlds at the same time, that we have a personal arena in which we have to try and find fulfilment and love. But that inevitably intersects with a larger world, where politics, or even dystopian universes, can prevail. So I think I've always been interested in that. We live in small worlds and big worlds at the same time and we can't, you know, forget one or the other."

Ballad of a dreamer

Jennifer,thank you for letting me go
Don't you feel bad going away
I understand why you have to leave
to follow your heart
Go where you can be happy
chase your American dream to make it big one day
I cannot stop you from chasing your dream
Get out of this sleepy town
where nothing is happening
and you are a nobody to everybody
a nobody struggling to escape this humdrum life
Make me proud ,my mama said
Don't ever be a loser in life
like your dad who has become a broken man drowning his dying dreams in drinks nite and day
cause he gave up and never woke up since.
Make something of yourself ,son
Run away from this hopeless town
Go and see how big the world is outside
Seek all the riches and fame that is waiting for you
Go and make it big,my son.
Jennifer,I'm sorry for letting you down
It's ok. I understand.I am happy to be me.
I dream of a man who truly loves me for who i am.
Waking up to arms wrapped around me
Nestled to the curve of his back.
Longing to see a face that lights up when I step into the home.
Stroking my hair softly as we snuggled on the sofa
listening to the old jazz crooners
I am contented with a simple man with simple needs.
Someone who is always here for me
So I will not wait for you
As you go and chase your dreams
And I will try not to miss you
For one day,I knowthousands will scream for you
For you will have gained the fame you dream of
Don't feel sorry for  you are you
and I have to be me.
Go and reach for the stars
and don't tell me it's lonely up there
cause  all I only wanted was a simple life .
Without the spotlight and the never ending strife.
So go on your journey of dreams.
Go with the good wishes of your mama and mine.
We know you will make it big one day
 
 

The day the music makers departed

Depression is often the underestimated killer of this century.
The focus on health should encompass emotional and mental health because it's so heartbreaking to lose talented,physically healthy individuals who take their own lives because life just got so sad and such wounds they have cannot be seen by the naked eye nor diagnostic machines for these invisible scars makes the sufferers live perpetually under a dark cloud.
  Both Chester Bennington and the lead vocalist of Shinee have chosen to take their own lives.It makes one wonder why when both are at the peak of their careers and not struggling artistes anymore.Rest in Peace Music Men.

Fascinating book

I'm reading this fascinating book "A brief history of the Future" by OOna Strathern in which visionary thinkers who changed the world are reported like Orwell,Huxley and HG Wells and how tomorrows trends are made and marketed.Megatrends for Women by Naisbitt and Aburdene the futurist gap on women's needs with bold chapters like The Menopause Megatrend,The Goddess Awakening or even "To Hell with Sexism."The queen of futurism was Faith Popcorn. The Nostradamus of Marketing  said "America is a consumer culture and when we change what we buy and how we buy it-we'll change who we are.
 One of the trends she spotted was "cocooning" .It's come true with e shopping where goods are delivered to our doorstop,netflix where movies are watched in comfort of home and food panda where meals are delivered to our doorstep.With massive jams,no socializing for me.