I did know someone who died on Monday. His name was Jamie Bishop.

Jamie taught German here at Virginia Tech, in addition to several workshops in Torgersen for the Faculty Development Institute (FDI). I had seen him Torg many times and knew he taught some short courses on web design. I actually took one of those 2-hour sessions just last month on Cascading Style Sheets. Jamie was a natural in the classroom and I can see why he was so liked by his students. He, like the others, will be greatly missed.

Many of my friends have had a much more difficult time with this situation as they had friends and advisors that also died. Not an easy thing to deal with this grief thing. Unfortunately, it's something that I know all to well.

I would like to make an addendum to my previous rant about the media.....

While being here and having all of the cameras and media blitz reign down on Blacksburg, please understand that it feels like an extension of Monday's violation. But after talking with a few yesterday, I know that it is a crucial thing for others around the world to be able to 'connect' with us. The world is hurting with us right now and they need to see the strength of our resolve in the dark hour.

I would like to thank John Roberts with CNN for being a standup guy and for reporting the news in a sensitive and humanistic manner, unlike many other talking heads that have camped out here.

As the names come out, so do the tears. While I still haven't heard all the names, I didn't actually know any of these 32 people. Does that make it any less significant? Not in my mind. These people died just around the corner from where I spend a large part of my day. While I was sitting and checking my email, these people were being murdered.

And not only did 32 people parish here yesterday, but part of Blacksburg and Virginia Tech also died. Our quiet little town that has been best known for engineering, college football and spectacular Fall foliage will now be remembered for this--for this one day.

My head is still spinning. My heart is still aching.

*Warning....offensive language and ranting ahead*

This is absolutely one of the worst days in my life. While I suffered no personal loss, I have spent a large part of my day talking to friends who have. Thank you to everyone for calling and showing your concern. I'm ok....I guess.

How can I be ok? I'm not. People died today. And not just on the news, but here...in our town, on our campus, outside my office. There were over 30 people that died in a building about 100 yards from my office this morning. Gunned down by an animal with no regard for human life. All these people....and for what?

I've never been a huge fan of the media, but after today, I really can't stand reporters and the talking heads. For them to sit there and be all high and mighty and to 2nd guess our law enforcement while this men and women are out there trying to figure out what the hell is going on AND keep 30,000 people safe all at once?! FUCK THEM! FUCK THESE FEARMONGERING BASTARDS! I used to have huge respect for Katie Couric, Wolf Blitzer and the like....but today.....what a joke.

Sorry our police department wasn't releasing facts fast enough, but guess what.....they weren't gonna release speculation. Do you think that these guys aren't getting support and advice from State and Federal Law Enforcement agencies? Come on!

I'm sorry, I'm just fed up with this bullshit. Can't wait for 'ole Bushy to show up tomorrow for his photo op. Yeah, thanks turd! Thanks for your support on gun control. When are you assholes in Richmond and Washington going to learn that guns DO kill people. Ban porn, that makes people have sex. Ban gay marriage because we don't need no fags messing up the sanctity of marriage. But don't ban guns...that lets people just.....uh.......hmmm.....kill people.

Sorry about the rant here. But I figure I pay for this space, so I can say whatever the fuck I want! Yeah, I'm just that mad right now.

I'm going to bed. Tomorrow is just going to be a continuation of today.....ugh.

So the past few weeks have been kinda crazy around here. Big deadline for a major project at work, trying to track down professors to check on their status, lots of video capturing/recording and meetings......busy busy. Oh, and then there were the bomb threats.....yes, more than one.

Last Monday, my office had a huge evacuation for an apparent bomb threat. We kinda laughed and chalked it up to some dumbass punk who didn't want to have to take a test. Well, then today during an all-day class that I was in, we were asked to quietly leave the building again and assemble in Burruss Auditorium. Ok.....not cool. We were then briefed by the University officials and the FBI that there had been another threat and were asked to view the letter. Ok......

So now I'm just annoyed at some a-hole who's pissed off about something and is on some power trip to get back at a professor or something....who knows. Bottom line is--I have work to do, like many other people. And I'd like to get on my way and get things done for my employers. But I'd also like to NOT get blown up.......my cube is on the other side of the wall of one of the largest classrooms on campus.....and across the hall from possibly the most expensive one. Great.

Ugh.

So yeah.....don't know what to think at the moment. Just glad that it's Friday and the authorities will have the weekend to check things out and hopefully find the douchebag who is making life just too damn complicated for far too many good people.

Over and out!