An Unpleasant Way to Die

Zeno of Citium, the father of Stoicism, died around 264 BC. Laërtius reports about his death: "As he left the school, he tripped, fell and broke a toe. Hitting the ground with his hand, he cited words of Niobe: "I am coming, why do you call me thus?". Since the stoic sage is expected to do always what is appropriate and Zeno was very old at the time, he felt it appropriate to die and consequently strangled himself.
(from Wikipedia)

In more recent news, I have discovered last.fm Internet Radio. For some weeks, I have been at odds with music. I still listen to it, but without the acute interest and pleasure that I am accustomed to experiencing. I thought that I was just bored with certain genres so I downloaded some Mogwai, some Maria Callas, some Edith Piaff, and some Buckwheat Zydeco; I found no relief and no pleasure. I briefly found myself entranced by La Marseillaise, but there are only so many times you can listen to such a stirring song without joining the French Foreign Legion. So that is what I have done.
Goodbye.


Or rather, I might have joined the Foreign Legion if I hadn't found last.fm and begun using it. I apparently registered for it on March 30th, didn't download the software, and didn't give it another thought until last weekend when I listened to 100 songs by artists I hadn't necessarily even heard of. I listened to Odetta, Hubert Sumlin, R.L. Burnside and Memphis Slim. I also listened to Barbecue Bob, Sonny Terry, and a boppin' and hoppin' sort of fellow named Chan Romero who is basically Richie Valens without knowing it.

In conclusion, God bless last.fm and qu'un sang impur abreuve nos sillons!