Spring Beirut Marathon

The derek zoomed through the streets booming, "Remove your vehicles. Remove your vehicles." The marathon is tomorrow.

How many people will participate? Just Lebanese, most likely - this is not an official international competition.

Will Beiruti get anything in return for the inconvenience of moving theirs cars? Maybe a few extra tourist dollars for the neighborhood dekane...

Regardless, pictures of President Sleiman are everywhere. The Qawmy and Future members in my neighborhood might want to kill each other, but "we are all united for Sleiman," and the symbolism matters.

Fairouz is playing from most shops. However, politics is expressed in the particular song being played. We won't go into the specifics, "Oh, flower from the south, oh, crying bird." For all of you abroad we are playing,"Kifak inta?"