It’s not everyone’s cup of tea to enjoy watching el Matador use el Toro, as a pin cushion. Certainly not the writer’s. Yet, there is no denying the fact that to bull ring addicts there is an art and a science to be discerned and savoured in the act of el Matador systematically converting el Toro to corned beef. With super-tuned reflexes el Matador’s graceful responses to the charges and thrusts of el Toro’s lethal weapons located on its crown does constitute an art and a science, come to think of it. Especially, considering the fact that a margin of error at any given move barely exceeds a few centimetres for the tables to be turned and for el Toro to practice acupuncture on el Matador.

Although having viewed bull fights only on celluloid as sequences in films or travel documentaries and then, too, with detachment and perhaps, detestation, the fact, however, does not escape one that the fans gain quite a thrill and sensation judging from the degree of engrossment and their frenzied reactions. Akin to the thrill and sensation that the writer experiences reading the editorials in ‘The Island’ such as that of 14th March, 2009, titled ‘EU oxygen for sinking Tigers’. Does claiming kinship with bull fight fans to explain the readers’ reaction to The Island’s editorials delivered in inimitable style, point to a latent sadistic/blood thirsty instinct in the reader? If looking forward to The Island’s editorials deem it so, the writer is more than willing to wear the tag!

The front page of ‘The Island’ which contained the subject editorial had an attention drawer to an article on page 7 titled ‘oldest fossilised fish brain discovered’. The question that instinctively rushed to the writer’s mind...’ Was it in the EU parliamentary premises by any chance?’