We're sitting on a hill over looking Gaza, waiting to do live shots. It's strangely peaceful here. The sky is clear. The sun is bright. You can see past the security fence, past the green fields, into the homes of Beit Hanoun and the towers of Gaza City beyond them. Just a sliver of the Mediterranean is visible.

It's quiet. Except for the monotonous buzz of an Israeli drone overhead. Most times, we can't see it. But now and then, you can catch it's white triangular body against the blue sky, waiting and watching. It never seems to change speed.

Our producer calls to tell us of an Israeli air strike in Gaza City. It missed it's target and hit a family travelling in a car. 3 people were killed. I wonder if the drone above us had anything to do with it.

Occasionally, we hear a different noise. A distant boom and then a plume of smoke climbs the sky. Another rocket attack. That makes 26 today. I'm sure there are more.

Our cameraman calls us. He's out getting gas and sandwiches for lunch. The rocket landed less than 200 meters from the station, he says. But don't worry, he says, no injuries and lunch is on the way.

Earlier, an Israeli army unit dropped by. They told us not to linger here too long. There are snipers, says one soldier. He is wearing a battered flak jacket and points to Gaza.

Thanks, we say, we'll be careful. He shrugs his shoulders. Up to you, he says, and they drive off.

Now, we can hear the call to prayer. It drifts over the border from the village of Beit Hanoun in Gaza. We notice another column of smoke rising on the Israeli side. Qassam rocket, maybe? A little later a much louder boom, that shakes the ground. But still far away. Israeli missile strike in Gaza perhaps?

Our cameraman drives up, grinning and unscathed, clutching a bag of sandwiches and diet sodas. So, we sit down for a picnic on the border, basking in the sunshine and listening to the distant sounds of war.

-- From CNN correspondent Atika Shubert on the Israel – Gaza border.

Posted by In The Field Online Producers: 4:37 AM

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Here are two recent examples:

During the first week of the election crisis there was some looting in Mombasa. In one case, wood was stolen from a lumberyard. Rather than get the police involved- the owners of the lumberyard merely gave the looters six days to return the goods or they would put a spell on the looters. It worked, within two days all the lumber was returned. No spells ended up being necessary. The police said they wished that solving each crime could be so simple.

On Friday, as I was going through security at the Mombasa airport, the woman at the x-ray machine was in awe at the size of my Professional Video camera. She said it must cost a lot, I said it was probably not a much as she thought. She thought for a second, and jokingly said “100 cows… I’ll give you a hundred cows for the camera.”

I do admit to thinking about it- thinking to myself ‘where would I put 100 cows?’ How would I explain a trade of 100 cows for 1 camera to CNN management? Could I trade 100 cows for a newer HD camera? In the end it seemed like it would definitely be too much hassle- but it is good to know that my camera I have used for many years could garner 100 cows should it become necessary.

-- From CNN Chief Photographer Todd Baxter, in Mombasa, Kenya.

Posted by In The Field Online Producers: 6:14 AM

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