Wish me luck, as you wave me goodbye. Cheerio, here I go,on my way...

Obama Says U.S. Seeks to Build Stronger Ties to China. You know what they say; If you can't beat them, join them. Does this mean the world at large will gradually accept China's pegged exchange rate? (Point of note/amusement): Some kook confidently said to me before that China has a floating exchange rate because...well his uncle thinks so.

Though I object heavily to the article's sweeping generalization that ASEAN is just an economic group. It is more than than that - it was formed to regionalize South East Asia with the aim of promoting regional security and strengthening cultural ties. Economics has hardly been the driving factor behind a significant portion of ASEAN's four decades worth of history.

If it were, the Asian Financial Crisis would not have dented Singapore's economy as badly as it did; when the Baht fell, the Rupiah fell, the Ringgit fell, it was a "Beggar thy neighbour" attitude that prospered in the region. Anyway, I am not nitpicking here - as someone who is studying ASEAN as part of her university coursework, I oppose to blunt generalization of its function as just an economic group. Oh and for posterity's sake - ASEAN is not the Asian version of the EU.

A caveat (of some interest): ASEAN members never interfere with the internal politics of their member countries; which is why it's credibility has been repeatedly questioned over its stance on the crackdown that happened in Myanmar two years ago.

I'm curious to see what they achieve out of APEC Summit this weekend. The securities have locked down major roads leading up to the central business district here in the name of housing so many important leaders, including the man touted to be the most powerful in the world. Despite my cynicism towards the USofA, I am a fan of Obama. I believe he has a strong character that was seriously lacking in Bush. Though I must say, so far, after resuming office for nearly a year he hasn't made as much progress as he had been projecting during the presidential campaign. However, Iraq's recent passing of the election bill and the recent decision to try Khalid Shaikh Mohammed - the mastermind behind 9/11 in court (in the process of shutting down Guantanamo Bay) injects some optimism among those beginning to question the validity of Obama's campaign promises. The healthcare bill - I am not certain how durable it is going to be in the long run; from the little I have learned in Economics, government sponsored bills are not sustainable in the long run. Granted I have not actually seen the bill properly - though if you scurry around the NYtimes website, you'll find a copy up for download somewhere. I came across it the other day, but my misfortune that I forgot to at least save a link for it.

I am going to put the following point as a place holder:

Due to my inability to sleep without listening to the radio, I have developed a long standing habit of listening to BBC radio on 88.9 FM. Thanks to the time difference, at exactly about 2 a.m. local time they air the BBC World Have Your Say. I am a huge fan of the debates that go back and forth for the hour - some of the arguments are enviably well thought-out and effortlessly executed. Others are just plain stupid. Every time I formulate my own argument and post it on their blog, the show ends. IT IS NOT A MERRY COINCIDENCE. Yesterday they were discussing about Depression and should sufferers be more forthcoming with their conditions. I had a lot to say on this issue - I do suffer from it, and while my case isn't serious enough to seek intense medical help, I have had to drastically adjust my life, my schedules to cope with it. I do just fine - I don't need pills or therapy anymore. Granted the episodic outbursts cannot be helped (it's like epilepsy; the medicine helps to keep it under control, not fully cure it), I have done just fine for five years now.

I don't like advertising my condition to people - I don't want them to treat me differently. I certainly oppose the idea of conveying a very weak and fragile state of my mind. I am neither; I am tough as a diamond and to be denied opportunities or given leeway because people pity me is not acceptable to my conscience. It can even be annoying at times, when, unintentionally, I divulge into people that I do suffer from depressive episodes from time to time. The first response, quite naturally, I get is, "You are depressed? Why we had no idea!" Of course you don't. Most sufferers of depression you see appear perfectly normal in plainsight. There is a clear distinction between emo/gothic/punk and those who actually have clinical depression.

Anyway, back to my comment about World Have your Say, WHO DO I HAVE TO SHAG/MURDER/DEFENESTRATE (not necessarily in that order) TO GET MY COMMENT READ OUT ON AIR? I'll try tonight. Wish me luck, as you wave me goodbye. Cheerio, here I go,on my way...