Shocking news abut the multiple shooting at a school in Jokela today (7th Nov 07). It is very close indeed to Ainola, by the way - just a few km away. Of course JS had to endure a bit of rough stuff with guns during the Civil War but that was kind of predictable. For such a thing to occur in such a peaceful place in this day and age is as unwelcome as it is unprecedented, don't you agree?

unwelcome events ANYWHERE!
i lived very few miles from the westside shooting in arkansas.
that seemed to be our first here in my country.
there are whackos all over.
we practice much more security now.

dj

I've been a little cut-off from the news lately, just looked up that last incident... terrible.

7.11.7. ... why do these whackos often choose these numerological niceties on which to commit their crimes? I think a better route to immortality is to write 7 fantastic symphonies.

The recent shootings in Finland were truely horrific, I suppose that we so identify Finland with the peace, beauty and exaltation of Sibelius's music that these crimes come as an even greater shock.
My daughter lives in Richmond Virginia, and some of you may remember the VA shootings at Blacksburg Virginia last April. A student killed two other students in a dormitory. He later went to a post Office and mailed a dvd to NBC news in Newyork [to arrive a day later] that gave details about the killer etc. He then went into the building [Norris Hall] opened fire and killed another 30 people [students and teachers] and then killed himself. The deadliest school shooting in US history.
All this talk of massacres is very depressing, so roll on Sunday and Sibelius's 4th and 5th Symphonies from Mark Elder and the Halle in Manchester.--kullervopete.