Math Is Fun Forum

mikau

Member

Registered: 2005-08-22

Posts: 1,504

shooting at Blacksburg Virginia today: Worst in US history

For those who haven't heard, the record for worst school shooting in the US was broken this morning at 7:15 am, at a virginia tech campus. 31 people were killed (including the shooter) surpassing the previous record of 23.

I can't believe it. When I woke up this morning none of this had happend. I was riding on the trian to school, safe and warm while this tragedy was occuring.

Its so scary that this kind of thing could happen at a college.  People are just going about their business, trying to complete the final stage of their education. Some may have been in their last year of school and all their efforts, everything they worked so hard to earn is just stolen from them, and it can never be replaced.

I'll never understand why some people feel compelled to kill dozens of perfect strangers because of their own misfortunes.

Every day, the world seems a bit less beautiful.

---

A logarithm is just a misspelled algorithm.

Ricky

Moderator

Registered: 2005-12-04

Posts: 3,791

Re: shooting at Blacksburg Virginia today: Worst in US history

That's my school.  I was coming out of Abstract Algebra when we saw the first police cars and ambulances.  I didn't really think much of it, but joined the small crowd (5-7 people) at the window watching.  I moved to the other side of the building and saw that they had surrounded Norris, about 100 meters away from me.  Word quickly spread to stay inside buildings.  After a short while, we started seeing people running out of Norris, many with their hands over their head, being escorted by police officers.  One older man (from what I hear, professor) had his entire left sleeve dripping in blood.  We watched as police went in with their guns drawn, but couldn't see anything once they were inside.  After a while of waiting (hour or two), we saw them search the roof, and shortly after that a police officer came through my building telling everyone to slowly and calmly head back to where you live.

I still don't believe there can be that many dead and wounded.  But I guess I'm going to start having to.  So far, everyone I know is fine.

Right now, there are police on every side of every building on my campus.  Or at least it seems that way.

---

"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."

mikau

Member

Registered: 2005-08-22

Posts: 1,504

Re: shooting at Blacksburg Virginia today: Worst in US history

holy cow....

I can't believe this. We could have lost one of our greatest forum members.

Glad you're okay, Ricky!

---

A logarithm is just a misspelled algorithm.

MathsIsFun

Administrator

Registered: 2005-01-21

Posts: 7,713

Re: shooting at Blacksburg Virginia today: Worst in US history

Shocked.

---

"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

MathsIsFun

Administrator

Registered: 2005-01-21

Posts: 7,713

Re: shooting at Blacksburg Virginia today: Worst in US history

Such a terrible thing ... my heart goes out to all those who have lost family and friends. I am SO glad you were spared, Ricky.

I still can't absorb it.

---

"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

mikau

Member

Registered: 2005-08-22

Posts: 1,504

Re: shooting at Blacksburg Virginia today: Worst in US history

Same here, mathsisfun. I can't believe this happened today.

Supposedly the death toll is now at 33. This is horrible!

---

A logarithm is just a misspelled algorithm.

JaneFairfax

Member

Registered: 2007-02-23

Posts: 6,868

Re: shooting at Blacksburg Virginia today: Worst in US history

Here in the UK, thanks to extremely strict laws on the possession of firearms, such tragedies are rare, but this is not so say that they don’t occur here. In fact, one such incident happened in the Scottish town of Dunblane just over 11 years ago – and the Dunblane massacre of 13 March 1996 remains the worst shooting incident at a school in UK history, with a death toll of 17.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunblane_massacre

Zhylliolom

Real Member

Registered: 2005-09-05

Posts: 412

Re: shooting at Blacksburg Virginia today: Worst in US history

I saw on Facebook that you are ok, Ricky. That is good news. Hopefully all of your friends are fine as well.

Stanley_Marsh

Member

Registered: 2006-12-13

Posts: 345

Re: shooting at Blacksburg Virginia today: Worst in US history

Oh my GOD, Ricky ! It's great the you are okay , the world can't afford to lose another genius

---

Numbers are the essence of the Universe

George,Y

Member

Registered: 2006-03-12

Posts: 1,379

Re: shooting at Blacksburg Virginia today: Worst in US history

I heard the news and recalled Ricky is in Virginia somehow, but here I am surprised to see that you are actually in That School! Ricky!
Great that you haven't got any interest in German class...

Well,..., I heard the rumor that the killer is a Chinese national, from Shanghai, don't know if it is true.

The eyewitness, the 19-year old bald girl claimed it was an Asian, less than 6 feet tall- she just stated so vigorously about the murderer, therefore I guess she omitted important details under the demand of the police.

---

X'(y-Xβ)=0

U7109

Real Member

Registered: 2007-03-19

Posts: 485

Re: shooting at Blacksburg Virginia today: Worst in US history

I am so shocked. Thank the heavens you are still here today! I heard about the shooting, it is so awful, awful awful. :(:(

---

"Reality leaves a lot to the imagination," ~ John Lennon

John E. Franklin

Member

Registered: 2005-08-29

Posts: 3,588

Re: shooting at Blacksburg Virginia today: Worst in US history

Ricky, I am so sorry.  From John in New Hampshire.

---

igloo myrtilles fourmis

George,Y

Member

Registered: 2006-03-12

Posts: 1,379

Re: shooting at Blacksburg Virginia today: Worst in US history

A Korean American who hated the richer......

---

X'(y-Xβ)=0

justlookingforthemoment

Moderator

Registered: 2005-05-26

Posts: 2,161

Re: shooting at Blacksburg Virginia today: Worst in US history

Oh my goodness. And we just watched Bowling for Columbine in English.

Thoughts are with you, Ricky, and everyone else.

John E. Franklin

Member

Registered: 2005-08-29

Posts: 3,588

Re: shooting at Blacksburg Virginia today: Worst in US history

They're talking about the 1 year anniversary
of this horrible thing on TV, although it is a
Monday today, it is not April 16th yet.

---

igloo myrtilles fourmis

JaneFairfax

Member

Registered: 2007-02-23

Posts: 6,868

Re: shooting at Blacksburg Virginia today: Worst in US history

The Dunblane massacre was even more horrific and is even more talked about.

John E. Franklin

Member

Registered: 2005-08-29

Posts: 3,588

Re: shooting at Blacksburg Virginia today: Worst in US history

children, yes, I agree.

---

igloo myrtilles fourmis