My columnHere’s a blog with political commentary with a twist: Kung Fu Shoes Says.Link to front page image: Kottke.org.Design Observer has top ten things never taught in design school -which can apply to life and work in general, too.

1 Too Many Peaches has been calling friends in Lebanon and details some of the experiences recounted to them (driving through a tunnel at 160 mph every morning to go work, etc.).Philippine Commentary proclaims support for Israel.  Counterterrorism Blog, to my mind, helps indicate some reasons why.The thinking of some American conservatives, such as The Strata-Sphere are a bit too Gotterdamerung for comfort.  Chris Doidge’s blog tries to calculate how long it would take Israel to achieve military success, based on official Israeli figures.

THE LONG VIEW Rootin’ tootin’ regime By Manuel L. Quezon III Inquirer Published on Page A11 of the July 27, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer THERE’S supposedly a car rental brochure from Tokyo that has this amusing example of English: “When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously [...]

In Thailand,And also,A beaming President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo confers on 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman the Order of Lakandula with the rank of Champion for Life during a Testimonial Lunch Wednesday (July 26) at Malacanang’s Rizal Hall.  Quigaman was conferred the award for besting contestants from other countries in the 2005 Miss International beauty pageant.  (Rey S.

Ran into Rep. Neric Acosta (LP).  He says the administration candidate against him is going to Virgilio Garcillano.Also, the First Gentleman’s sister is running for Congress, in Iloilo City, I believe.Like I said, “bastusan na”.

The literature on the Middle East, its politics, and individual nations is vast.  For the show, I relied on two books: “From Beirut to Jerusalem (Updated with a New Chapter)” (Thomas L.  Friedman) (although my copy doesn’t have the new chapter) and “GOD HAS NINETY NINE NAMES : Reporting from a Militant Middle East” (Judith Miller).

It’s clear that there are concerns over the health of the King of Thailand, who recently underwent spinal surgery.However, what is of central interest in Thailand now is the arrest of four members of the Thai elections commission (their equivalent of the Philippine Comelec).  An analysis points to a recent (and uprecedented) communication from the King, expressing his wishes for peace, stability, and clean elections.  the king threw his considerable moral influence behind an appeal for the courts to resolve the Thai political crisis.

The bogosphere was abuzz during and after the State of the Nation address.  The reactions of young bloggers ran the gamut from admiring to dismayed.  Students like Waypoint to sudden death, or the present’s just a pleasant interuption to the past and anne_17 had to watch it because of school requirements (and seem mostly bored).

At the opening of the House, the Speaker made a pitch for amendments, saying the House is 12 votes short of the needed votes for a Constituent Assembly, and that only Makati City stands in the way of the “people’s initiative”.  Not-so-subtly, he said the eyes of the country are now on the Supreme Court for its guidance on the question of amendments….  Just as the chief executive is required to report to Congress in person, I believe Congress is required to attend and listen (respect for the office, whether or not legitimately held by a person).

The party line is, Arroyo in triumphal mood.  Therefore, Sona: Economy is the focus.My column for today has a different view…  it’s going to be a scene straight out of the Gulag Archipelago.Here’s the real inspiration for the SONA:Oh, and someone wants me cleansed.