Dare we even mention...

...the "l" word?

Someone went back to school yesterday and brought a little friend home. Sighs. Orders more neem.

He's Out

It would have been nice to use the word freedom in connection with Mordechai Vanunu's release from Ashkelon prison, but it's not quite that. Still, there's interesting stuff today on his case and its impact on other people, including the story of the woman who ensnared him (Indy) and his younger brother (Village Voice).

We've followed the Vanunu case quite closely over the years. When he was first captured the ravens' father still worked at a nuclear plant (as he had for most of his working life), the ravens had worked at the same plant one summer and would work on the various construction sites that ringed it over the subsequent couple of years, the ravens' mother had worked there in the past and the ravens' brother would do so for a summer too. (When we say we come from a nuclear family that's exactly what we mean: our parents met whilst working at the plant and we grew up on one parent's income from continued employment there. Incidentally, when we took Looby Loo round the visitors centre there last week, we were not only showing her where one grandfather had worked but also saw examples of the type of fuel rod her other grandfather had helped to design when he'd worked in the nuclear industry.) Then Vanunu's predicament as a whistle blower brought home the reality of the secrecy and security that surrounded the nuclear industry in the UK--even with temporary summer employment came the signing of the Official Secrets Act. At the time we remember getting the impression that there was a feeling of solidarity and understanding of Vanunu's predicament amongst other scientists (but we may be misremembering or imposing our own sympathies).

We wish Vanunu well.

From the Department of We Think We Know What You Mean, But...

From the several reminders in Looby Loo's note from school:

We noticed recently that children are bringing toys into school. This can cause us some concern if those toys are damaged in anyway[sic]. At lunchtime we provide and arrange activities and we would wish to discourage this practice.

So are the school concerned that the toys arrive damaged and might hurt someone? Or that the toys arrive in sound condition and subsequently get damaged? Or both? Or neither? As for the discouragement of the school's own activities....

DIY Parliament

Now this looks fun.