Its not a news update. Its Omar Abdul Kareems relentlessly beeping cell phone - and one of the 20 or so humorous text messages he gets every day from his friends.

In a city bereft of entertainment, text messaging and swapping ringtones are all the rage for young Iraqis trying to lighten their lives. Most restaurants, cafes and movies have closed due to the countrys security situation.

The content of the text messages and ringtones speak volumes about the state of affairs here: jokes and songs about suicide bombings, sectarianism, power outages, gas prices, Saddam Hussein and George Bush.

Cell phone shops, the only crowded stores these days, sell special CDs with ringtones at about $2 apiece. Collections of short jokes especially written for texters are best-sellers.

Iraqis fiddling with their cell phones on the streets look like New Yorkers hooked on iPods.

Its not like theres much to do around here, Abdul Kareem said. Its perhaps the only venue to express ourselves.

He used to buy $60 worth of prepaid phone cards a month to text to his girlfriend - until they broke up.

After sending her a lot of I miss you texts, hes moved on. Now he sends his aunt dozens of jokes, most of them at the expense of ethnic Kurds.

The daily reality of violence and explosions has influenced every aspect of Iraqi life - including love notes. I send you the tanks of my love, bullets of my admiration and a rocket of my yearning, one popular message reads.

A popular ringtone features the music from Coolios Gangstas Paradise. But the local version includes a voice similar to Saddams rapping in English: Im Saddam, I dont have a bomb/Bush wants to kick me/I dont know why/smoking weed and getting high/I know the devils by my side.