All the Beirut news.

Mohammed Zaatari/AP 
You've probably seen this on Facbook dozens of times today. And thank God for AP photojournalist Mohammed Zaatari for taking it. But what does it mean?

You may often wonder – what’s the best way to cut up a sandwich in two without the whole mess… and then you would say, “Why the heck didn’t I think of that…” when you see the simplicity of the – a smartly designed Chef Panini Spatula by Williams-Sonoma. Designed for carefully lifting freshly grilled »more...

Source: Naharnet
Speechless.

Spotted in Zouk Mosbeh
I had no clue we have speech therapists in Lebanon. There are a lot of politicians in Lebanon who could make use of some sessions.
Speaking of speech therapists, I recommend you watch [The King's Speech] if you haven’t yet.

Quelque chose d’ineffable se meurt en nous
Nos cœurs meurtris se serrent, nos gorges se nouent
Une drôle d’impression s’empare de nous
Abattus, nous nous effondrons sur nos genoux
Quelque chose d’ineffable se meurt en nous
Nos cœurs meurtris se serrent, nos gorges se nouent

No it is not Saida, Tripoli or the Bekaa Valley. 
This is Dekwaneh, a working class suburb of East Beirut, home to Lebanon's department of motor vehicles.  It's not a battlefield between pro- and anti-Hezbollah forces, but thousands of potential killers are licensed here every year.
Nearly 1,000 persons die annually on Lebanese roads, according to the World Health Organization. 

  Can’t do without a balcony in Beirut; most important part of the house some 8 months a year. This is where we chill every evening after a day at work  & school (and pretty soon university). It’s BBQ time, and sunsets watching, and winding down time.

Jesus, another day another drama. So Jean Assy got arrested for insulting the president through Twitter. First, to all those who are saying "I disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it" - that's NOT Voltaire who said that, it's Evelyn Beatrice Hall summing up Voltaire's philosophy (so please, no quick pop psychology).
Yes, I admit, back in the day of Emile Lahoud in his second coming, Members of the Parliament and ministers were bashing him publicly left and right - did they go to prison as Jean Assy did? No. Should they have? Probably (I am sure there is a law for that somewhere). So - am I against Jean? No, not as an individual and I sincerely think he should be released.

Nathan Sawaya is a Lebanese-American artist who builds custom three-dimensional sculptures and large-scale mosaics using LEGO bricks and is the man behind The Art Of The Brick exhibition. I am a big Lego fan and this guy’s work is just amazing!

It honestly took one Daft Punk cover to make me a fan of The Royal Concept. I am not a fan of bands usually, but these guys are fucking awesome. The electronic elements they add to their songs makes me wanna get out of my comfort zone and try something new, and after raping their soundcloud page over the weekend, I’ve decided I’m definitely going tonight!

The 13th edition of Fete de la Musique is taking place this Friday June 21st, and just like every year, the festival is bringing together amateur and professional musicians and will span over 10 locations across Beirut.
Below is the festival program for you to choose where to go.

Wine and dine in perfect time! Get your next dinner party humming when you turn your sips into a symphony with these glasses turned musical instruments designed by Douglas Potts and Jasmine Lau of Nostalgics design studio. The etchings on the glasses are musical notations that correspond to the level of the liquid. When the »more...

Coca-Cola Zero and Coca-Cola Light are different so designer Clement Boutillon created a limited edition to give a feminine side to the Light bottle whereas the Zero bottle has more masculine lines. A new package encloses each bottle. The main concept was to keep the iconic “Contour” shape whilst creating an innovative shape.

So said a currency exchange dealer on Hamra street. I heard him say it to four Syrians that came in over the course of 20 minutes while we were talking.
The dealer said they started rejecting Syrian pounds today because "no one knows what the exchange rate is."
Imagine how many will be rejected every day.

People get hit by cars all the time in Lebanon.

The municipality of Beirut is preparing to spend millions on new roads and parking garages. But how can you build new roads if you cannot even regulate the ones you already have?

Experts say the only way to reduce traffic in the city is to reduce the number of cars.

The recent decision by the United States to start arming the Syrian opposition, coupled with the intervention by Hizbullah in al-Qusayr point to a deepening conflict in Syria. In the current context, the prospect of a peaceful solution based on a political compromise at the Geneva II Conference next month is desperately slim. The regime appears determined to eradicate the opposition using the tactics of 1982, while Assad’s opponents have doubled down on their efforts topple him with a better-funded and increasingly radicalized insurgency.