Alea iacta est

More to be done

The new Somali leaders are working quickly.

Militiamen loyal to Somali Islamic courts overnight raided a wedding party, beat a woman, and confiscated musical instruments in the capital Mogadishu as they enforced a ban on band music, officials and witnesses said.

Around 20 heavily-armed militiamen stormed a house in Mogadishu's Huriwa neighbourhood, fired shots in the air and confiscated musical instruments from a band entertaining guests at the wedding party, they said.

Organisers said the militiamen said the band was performing "satanic" music contrary to the teachings of the Koran.

Bah! Fools! Everyone knows all the best music is Satanic. It's the Devil's natural rhythm, you know?

I know it, you know it, Paganini damn well knew it.

A pervading myth about Paganini is that he sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for his fearsome technique, a rumor which he delighted in and may have even started himself. During a performance his eyes would roll into the back of his head while playing, revealing the whites. His swaying stance, long unruly hair and thin, gaunt stature would add to this rumor. He played so intensely that women would faint and men would break out weeping.

Sex-ay!

Posted by Quentin George at July 8, 2006 10:29 AM