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1 April 2004On March 11, 2004 Spain witnessed a devastating series of bomb blasts that was set off in trains and stations in Madrid. This was akin to the blasts in Bombay in 1993 that killed around 400 people. The Spain blasts claimed approximately 200 lives. In a novel form of protest, it was decided in Caltech to stage a silent protest at 12 noon on the day of the blasts. I have heard of hunger strikes, moment's silences, noisy rallies and candle vigils but I had never heard of a silent protest. People collected on the steps of the Beckman Auditorium under a mercilessly hot sun. Other than stifled coughs and hesitant shufflings about, there was stillness on the part of the company present. We tried hard not to look at each other and reflect instead on the incidents of the morning. We presented an interesting spectacle to the bemused passers-by who walked past us slightly perplexed as to what we beheld in the sight of a flat stretch of grass overlooking the Auditorium. After fifteen minutes, the sun started to pierce through my scalp and so I walked off, but it was definitely an interesting experience. And then, there is this group of "Orientophiles" that assembles at the crack of dawn every morning to practise the art of Falun Dafa. The way I see it, Falun Dafa is the cover (front) for Falun Gong, the "dissident" group in China that promotes student uprisings for more open and democratic governance there (Mention of Falun Gong means of course that this web page is now off limits to one-fifth of the planet), but claims to be a practice steeped in tradition and mysticism that purportedly improves body, mind and spirit. More than the awkward genuflections and seedy earth-music replete with birdcalls and streaming water, what intrigues me is a sign the group has started to put up recently -- "Free Charles Li". From what the sign says, Mr. Li is an American citizen who is being held in mainland China and is allegedly being subjected to third-degree treatment and other forms of torture with virtually no justification offered for his incarceration. Charles Li only practises Falun Dafa and is an active Falun Gong member. There is now even a song in honour of Mr. Li. The reason for mentioning these two incidents was to observe the small but healthy presence of liberal activism even in a place such as Caltech, California or no California.* * * * * I found a compilation of all the April 1 jokes that have been pulled off by the usual suspects -- Google, IETF, Slashdot -- even the BBC. I am still circumspect about Google's mailing service though, Gmail. And while Bahrain's powers that be do not look kindly upon such Christian tomfoolery, the kingdom's decision to ban champagne-spraying come Raceday merits the same measure of laughter. I am reminded of "The Moral Dimension" on Yes Minister. To top it all off, Seinfeld and Superman star in one of the funniest advertisements of all time. Of course, it is less an ad and more a comedy sketch. Sadly, a junk e-mail address might be required to view the ads but they are worth the mental effort to cook one up. |
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