Those who follow my blog will know how I will start today's journal: No electricity, bad coffee, bad news, empty and dirty streets, faceless people... Well, I hate to NOT disappoint you, you are right. No need to focus on these introductory statements today.

• A very old lady, who has been maybe my grandfather's client, came in today. "As long as people drink coffee, the world is fine", she said when she saw my morning clientele. I didn't want to contradict her by replying that the people she is referring to are mostly reporters, drinking their coffee in Lebanon because her world is not fine. Anyway, I am sure that, at her age, she is war-proof, probably witnessing over 10 wars in Lebanon, since the first world war.
• I had the nicest conversation with Emily (I mentioned her blog yesterday). If you think that her writing is great, you should listen to her talking. While sipping her cappuccino, she started talking about her trip to the South and what she saw there. All her words reflecting the human nature of this conflict, things that you can't see or hear on the media. I will not add anything more, it is all in her blog. But I wish that all the foreigners (and locals) think the same way she does.
• I met Marcelo, a Brazilian journalist. He works for the famous Brazilian newspaper, Folha de Sao Paolo, and came to Lebanon nearly two weeks ago. Our main conversation revolved around coffee, Brazilian coffee mainly, and how I was able to get coffee in the middle of this crisis. Then he asked for the permission to take some pictures, mainly a picture of the old 1950 German roaster I am so proud of. While he was showing me the digital pictures he just took, a picture of Emile Lahoud, the Lebanese president of the republic, made him comment: "I was interviewing him this morning. I should go now to write the article about the interview and I will follow it with an article about you. Both articles are about the war, in a different way".
• Georges showed me two A4 papers while he was ordering his one shot espresso. Both papers are print outs of Google Earth's satellite pictures of Beirut Southern Suburbs before the war and now. I looked at the updated version and noticed a huge empty square made from the effect of the Israeli bombings. "They are erasing the map of Lebanon", Georges said and continued on studying the map, with the help of his friend, to try to localize some geographical points. In no time, a circle of clients gathered to comment about what was Beirut Suburbs.
• At 3 PM, Hamra started to empty due to the Israeli rumor spread that they are intending to hit the heart of Beirut. I started to close after a while not expecting to have more work today. I turned off the coffee machine when a client entered, wanting something highly caffeinated to "ease up his strong headache". I turned him down explaining that I had to close earlier than usual due to the effect of the rumor. "They want to hit Beirut? Let them try!!! I wander how many dead bodies will Olmert want before realizing that he has lost this war!" he replied angrily.

Attached is a picture of reporters having their morning coffee.