Run Bambi, They Look Hungry!

I've decided to try not to write too much about the Jokela Massacre, because that seems to be a topic I could discuss endlessly. I honestly don't know why, with everything that's going on in the world, this particular incident enrages me as much as it does. There are still a few things I'd like to clear up.

First of all, The Times , shame on you. I've read your articles. Having the Times refer to Finland as a violent and aggressive nation in general, right after something like the Jokela Massacre happen for the first time is like being brutally killed, only to have the murderer return a week later to dance on the grave (I stole that, I know, but it applies).

Lots of newspapers, not only the Times, have been full of useful information about Finland, more exactly the fact that we have the third highest per capita gun ownership after the United States and Yemen. Wanna know why?

We hunt.

Up here in Thousandlakez, what we have probably about the same amount of that we have lakes, is woods. You know what lives in the woods? Food.

Finns have a population of about 5 million people, which makes it about 17,1 ppl / squarekm (not 120 like you said, Times) if I recall correctly. That means there's a lot of room for the trees to grow. We actually have to hunt in order to keep the deer from multiplying into gazillions and taking over the world. I'm also sure that If you'd take a look at some studies I don't think anybody has bothered to make, we'd have the highest per capita ownership of fishing poles too. Because there's actual food in the lakes too! Bambi and Nemo better not come over here if they don't want to be filéd, seasoned and roasted. So there, Times, are you satisfied? And let's face it, a nation with Dick Cheney (I think, might be I get my vice prezes all wrong) shooting a guy that's not in front of him, but right next to him, in the face,shouldn't throw rocks in their own glass house.

you are not completely wrong though, we actually have violence over here too. As Professor Arstila (can't remember his first name) from the University of Helsinki said it, we are a violent nation, but not in this way. We usualy stab each other. It's part of the finnish culture to go find some early morning food after the bars close at 4 am, and a lot of people end up in line to the closest Nakkikioski, a little stand that sells what we love most at five in the morning: bbq-sausage and french fries. Preferably with a lot of mayo. Now, line up any nationality of people, insanely drunk, waiting for something they're craving badly at 5 am, and see if someone might accidentally lose his temper. This is also the last place for those who are alone for the evening to meet somebody.

Finally, to end on a somewhat less whiny note, I'd like to take today to thank some people for their random acts of kindness.
 
To the girl in the changing room at H&M:
Thanks for giving me the last Roberto Cavalli dress for H&M you didn't want, instead of giving it to the other woman who already had her lap full of simiar articles by the same designer. I didn't realize they would all be sold in a matter of minutes, which kinda explains why I was there as late as an hour after they opened. It was actually just my size, it fit and it was, funny enough, just the panther-dress I had come there to look at in the first place. I bought it.

To Mom & Dad:
Thanks for letting me borrow Moms car while she's out travelling And for not making me pay for the gas. Saving a few tens of euros really means much to a student.

To Sami:
Thanks for coming to see me at work, even if ever so hastily, because we won't be seeing each other in a week.

Thanks to everyone who smiled at me today, for whatever reason.