a good decision against sexism

Israeli justice minister decrees an end to gender-based segregation

We'll see if it actually happens, and how many alter kockers start throwing stones as a result...

words worth remembering

“The evidence in this book suggests that the blood and wealth spent to maintain a country’s record for keeping commitments are wasted: when push comes to shove, credibility is assessed on the basis of the current interests at stake and the balance of power, not on the basis of past sacrifices. . . . Leaders understand that no two crises are sufficiently alike to be confident that past actions are a reliable guide to the future.”

Daryl Press, quoted by Fareed Zakaria in a good Washington Post article on why U.S. credibility is not on the line in Syria.

UK (tech savvy) Pals: mobile question

I'm starting to think about things I'll need to be dealing with related to The Move. I'll probably post about some others later on (packing/moving/storage of world goods, what to bring/leave, car storage, old flat evacuation, new flat hunting, the visa fezzle), but right now one question I have is about phones.

At the moment, I have a mobile plan through a US carrier that has voice, messaging, and data services that are attached to my iPhone 4. Now, they have "global" plans, but my impression is that they are probably pretty extortionate and that I'd be a lot better off cancelling my service (I think the service contract will be up next month, so I can do that without penalty) and signing up with someone new in the UK for the year (+?) that I'll be there.

Question is, can I use my beloved iPhone? Am I going to have to do something funky to it before I can use it on another network? I used to be tech-savvy, but I readily admit that when it comes to the world of mobile phones, I'm close to being someone's old grandad.

(no subject)

I heard this piece about Scots today on the radio in the car.

And I smiled all the way home, thinking, "For the next year, maybe more, I get to hear people like this every day."

It really made me very happy.