Gunpowder

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BEIJING -- As we’re stepping along with the 29 colossal burning footprints, symbolizing the 29 Olympic Games, there’s more fireworks, these representing the invention of gunpowder.

According to the official program notes:

‘Gunpowder was invented in the Song Dynasty (960 AD-1276 AD) in China. It is the mixture of potassium nitrate, sulphur and charcoal. People took these three things as medicines for illnesses in ancient times, hence the name ‘gunpowder,’ meaning ‘burning medicines.’ The invention of gunpowder is an outstanding achievement in the history of civilization and greatly challenged the course of world history.’’

Who knew? All those ungrateful people who have been shot since the Song Dynasty, I guess, should have been thanking their assailants for the ‘burning medicine.’’ I’ll look at ‘Dirty Harry’ movies differently from now on.

Shoot. While writing this, I missed something about Tiananmen Square. Checking the program, there is no mention of gunpowder.

-- Randy Harvey