Updated Map

Jeha's Nail has been updating his map. Here is the latest version.

Things have been almost completely quiet in the Hamra/Ras Beirut area for the past hour. Damn it. Just as I wrote that, I heard a few shots ring out. More now.

This is the time when I really wish that I had started learning Arabic when I first arrived in Beirut because the Lebanese tv channels (those that haven't been shut down) are wall-to-wall coverage. I've been watching them, just for the video they're showing, but to be honest I haven't been able to tell from the pictures alone where they are showing. But the images are mostly of sunny streets empty of all traffic but military tanks and a handful of male pedestrians milling around. They showed a bunch of barricades that have since been pushed aside, which are painted in light blue with Hariri's face stenciled on them.

The AP is reporting that Hezbollah has seized control of much of West Beirut.

Anyway, we have plenty of food in our apartment and are trying to distract ourselves for the time being by watching High School Musical, just about the absolute perfect antidote to round the clock war coverage.