~Dedicate~

Virginia Tech to grant victims their degrees

BLACKSBURG -- Maxine Turner will get her Virginia Tech degree next month.

If only in spirit.

Her graduating class will be all those students who died around her on Monday.

All except their killer, Cho Seung-Hui.

School officials here yesterday announced that all the bright, young students who were gunned down will, in death, get the academic honours they dreamed of in life.

While a number of students are still in area hospitals, the death toll remains at 33, including professors and Cho, who took his own life.

Holding up a picture of her sorority sister, Maxine's friend, Jessica Palazzola, stood near a fountain on the campus yesterday, and reflected on the sliver of light in a dark week.

"I think it's very appropriate," she said of the posthumous chemical engineering degree that will go to Maxine.

"She worked so hard. She was so dedicated."

Just before school officials made the announcement, they released the names of another 14 of the dead. The first nine names were officially released the day before.

DEFIANT REBUTTALS

Maxine's name has yet to be posted on that sad roster. Though almost all the names of the dead -- starting soon after Cho's rampage -- began to appear on blogs, instant messages and in the media.

The legacy of each of the students, and their teachers who lived for them and died with them, seem to be defiant rebuttals to the dreadful life Cho created for himself.

Maxine helped friend Jessica form their Alpha Omega Epsilon sorority in 2005. It is a strong sisterhood.

She was waiting to graduate with her bachelor's degree next month -- after gaining a scholarship -- and had already landed a spot with an established manufacturing company.

A day after Cho's multimedia last stand surfaced on Wednesday -- when the shock of the images wore off -- this campus once again has largely turned back to remembering their dead, consoling the wounded and taking the first steps to learning whether they could have stopped a clearly disturbed Cho before his rampage.

Classes will begin again on Monday. Students are being given options in terms of exams.

BACK TO LEARNING

But educators here hope most will come back to get what they first came for.

To get back to study. To get back to learning. To -- after a long time -- correct what Cho tried to teach the world.

This school will again produce leaders and creators, though healing is a curious and elusive word.

There will be graduating classes to come, and reasons to celebrate.

But only after they've properly added degrees to the legacy of Maxine and the others who died trying to better life.

Milo was laid to rest on Monday, February 12th, 2007 at 5:54pm at the Sweet Home Veterinary Clinic, due to a progressive kidney disease that went undetected for years.

Milo was a strong catthat was6 1/2 years old and lived with failing kidneys for the last 4 years of his life. He was there with us through most of our BIG life changes. When our first two dogs, Sadie and Jenny died, when we brought Skylar home for the first time from the hospital, as well as the big move from Arkansas to Oregon and the loss of Beau.

People who hated cats ended up loving Milo because of his great personality. He was a cat with ambition and at times I wondered if he really understoodhuman ways. Hewas there for me whenI was feeling down and loved on me when I needed it the most. He was my buddy and mybest friend till the end. As I held him in the clinic for his final breath, I told him that I loved him and that I will see him again. He died with dignity just the wayadignified cat like the Majestic Milo would have.

Milo was a great addition to our family in October of 2000 and a great loss to our family this year. He will be missed so much from everyone included Meia. He was a smart cat as well as a beautiful cat. The loss of Milo has put a big hole in our life but we are glad he isn't suffering any longer. He made Jeff and I cat people and we are glad we could have the time with Milo that we did.

We love you Mr. Milo Filo!

Gerald Ford, 38th President, Dies at 93

Former President Gerald R. Ford,who gently led the United States out of the tumultuous Watergate era but who lost his own bid for election after pardoning PresidentRichard Nixon,died at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, December 26th, 2006, at his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

He was 93, making him the oldest former president, surpassingRonald Reaganwho died in 2004, by just over a month.

His death was announced late Tuesday night in a statement issued by his wife, Betty Ford, which gave no details. Further family announcements today gave no cause of death, but he had been in and out of the hospital since January 2006, most recently in October at the Eisenhower Medical Center for medical tests. He returned to his home in Rancho Mirage after five days of hospitalization.-New York Times

James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, Dies at 73

James Brown 1933-2006

James Brown, the singer, songwriter, bandleader and dancer who indelibly transformed 20th-century music, died in Atlanta. He was 73 and lived in Beech Island, S.C., across the Savannah River from Augusta, Ga.

Mr. Brown died of congestive heart failure after being hospitalized for pneumonia, said his agent, Frank Copsidas.

Mr. Brown sold millions of records in a career that lasted half a century. In the 1960s and 1970s he regularly topped the rhythm-and-blues charts, although he never had a No. 1 pop hit. Yet his music proved far more durable and influential than countless chart-toppers. His funk provides the sophisticated rhythms that are the basis of hip-hop and a wide swath of current pop.-The New York Times

John Ritter was and still is my favorite comedian and it still breaks my heart to think he is gone. Even though I never met him I miss him. I miss seeing him on televison and movies, promos for trailers, and interviews. When Three's Company airs on Nick-At-Night anymore, I watch for awhile then change the channel.He was a loved man with a deep heart.

He was one of a kind and will never be replaced.

Mitten lived a good life. She will be sadly missed by everyone that went to Mike and Dots house for the past 18 years. Farewell Mitten Lu.

August 1988-November 2006

"The world has lost a great wildlife icon, a passionate conservationist and one of the proudest dads on the planet," "He died doing what he loved best and left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind. He would have said, 'Crocs Rule!'"

Ijust loved watching Steve Irwin and even Terry do what they do best with animals. He was known for the "crocodile hunter" but over all he did loads for all sorts of animals and for that he deserves the highest honor. Skylar and I would watch as hewould rescue all sorts of animals from iguanas to worthogs and everything in between. I for one will be sad that his time is done, he was a great person with a great cause and he made outsiders respect such animals that people feared otherwise. His death is an unfortunate tragedy and you can't help but shed a tear or two for this man.....