Time in Syria

Just back from a conference on literacy in Doha. Every session was polluted by people's mobile phones ringing, people chatting on their mobile phones, or just chatting. As I get older and more curmudgeonly, I find this less and less acceptable, and more and more discourteous. I'm sure that the trip was a jolly for many attendees, but why did they have to get in the way of those who actually did want to participate?

Nice hotel, Four Seasons, let down by some of the slowest elevators I have ever experienced. I must have spent about half an hour just waiting for the lift to arrive.