Our leader said the bomb could have destroyed a mountain. An expert claimed it could have taken out great swathes of suburbs, and probably Lop Buri, while another claimed that it might have blown the hood off the car if the thing had been wired properly in the first place, which it wasn't. But rest assured, no political leader has yet to be hurt in the making of this scam, although the driver must have felt a little foolish driving past Mr Thaksin's house five times with a "Bomb on Board" sticker on the rear window while yelling "Here I am!" through a megaphone.

The suspect was not an explosives expert. In fact, one reporter said for all we know he could be "a magician and part-time shrimp peeler who owns a gay Pug dog". Is this just another trip down conspiracy lane? Or have we got something unstoppable here, set into motion? Not sure, but there's never a dull moment in Thai politics because there's never a silent one.

***

Getting rid of corruption in Thai society is like trying to catch a porcupine:

"Make a narrowing channel of two lines of stout sticks and bait the far end with a porcupine delicacy - such as pineapple. The porcupine will enter the trap for the bait, but when it is ready to retreat its quills will prevent it backing out. At this point gloves will be required."

So, we have the fellows in brown investigating their very own over last week's mall scuffles. Even at the best of times, most people are sceptical of any government organisation that chooses to investigate itself as it is selective in the evidence it chooses to use - and yet we have agencies that are accused of exactly the practices they are supposed to be on the lookout for. These investigations have about as much credibility as a Zimbabwean bank note.

***

For some time now people in Western countries have been told that air travel is a major cause of greenhouse gasses and that we should all fly less. Fine. And yet, when some terrorists come along and make it almost impossible to fly at all, all the British government can do is complain. During the recent bomb scare at Heathrow, al-Qaeda did more in seven days to help the Kyoto agreement than Europe has done in a decade.

It's also interesting that the computer company Dell recalled four and a half million laptops because the batteries catch fire "for no reason" and yet this was the same week that airlines were insisting that all passengers put their laptops into the cargo hold where no one can see them for the entire flight.

That made people feel much safer halfway across the Atlantic.

***

Last week a cease-fire began in Lebanon. Is it real, is everyone just taking time to regroup and reload - or is it simply just half time? No idea, but the Hizbollah appear to be delighted with their side. Imagine tuning in to Al Jazeera. "Hello, brothers and sisters, here's the result of the first leg. If you're watching in Israel, look away now."

Meanwhile, back at the UN, Kofi Annan is trying to convince countries to contribute to a multinational force in southern Lebanon, and has apparently received a promise of 300,000 troops from Iran and Syria. Sounds like a generous offer, until you realise they were going there anyway.

***

An old friend has just got back a three-week summer holiday in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Berber culture. Ancient. Been there. A truly magical place. Did he like the food? "Well, it was all olives, dates, apricots and goat soup. It was like eating your way through the Bible."

***

In his wonderful new book, "A Field Guide to the Italian Mind", Beppe Severgnini writes: "Controllers and controlled have an unspoken agreement. You don't change, we don't change, and Italy doesn't change, but we all complain that we can't go on like this."

Although a perfect description of the Italians, the book oozes local resonance: "We think it's an insult to our intelligence to comply with a regulation. Obedience is boring. We want to think about it. We want to decide whether a particular law applies to our specific case. In that place, at that time."

Severgnini says that lying outrageously about one's income is considered normal. If someone were to cheat on his taxes in Italy, "two neighbours would come round to ask him how he did it, and two more would loathe him in silence. But no one would report him". He is also "dismayed at the national genius for enjoyment and the Italian inability to plan for the future".

***

Quotables:

English dog lover: "I have owned seven dogs in my life: my experience, particularly with the Jack Russells, was that it didn't matter what they were called, they came only when they were ready. Some years ago, I found a dog wandering. Its tag said: "My name is Rover. Who the hell are you?"

Letter to the Daily Telegraph: Sir, the downgrading of Pluto to dwarf-planet status has serious implications for astrology. As Pluto is Scorpio's planetary ruler, will the characteristics of Scorpionic humans be adjusted accordingly? I certainly hope so. I married one."

"If England played Iran at football, I'd back Iran - because I'm English and I support the underdog." UK-based exiled Iranian comedian Shappi Khorsandi.

Tony Harwood, a semi-retired maths teacher, writes: "One of a group of mature students asked me my age to which I replied that it was currently a prime number and in three years' time would be a perfect square. Another student said I couldn't possibly be 13 to which another added that I could easily be 97. The matter was resolved when yet another pointed out that in three years' time my age would also be a perfect cube. Such is the delight of numbers."

Graffito: Fancy a new Finland? Welcome to Newfoundland.

***

Sunday parable:

There are problems in the woods. The animals of the forest are always drunk, so the fox decides to ban alcohol. The following day, the fox spies a rabbit hanging out of a tree, clearly wasted. The fox ticks him off, and carries on his way. But the next day he sees the rabbit drunk again, and gives him a final warning. The next day, the fox does his rounds and there's no sign of the rabbit, but he notices a straw sticking out of a stream. Wondering what it is, the fox scoops it out, only to find a very drunk rabbit on the other end of it.

"How many times do I have to tell you that animals of the forest aren't allowed alcohol?" says the fox. "We fishes don't give a toss what the animals of the forest aren't allowed to do," says the rabbit.

 Compiled by Roger Beaumont