Just earlier today, all of us praying for James Kim’s safety received a little glimmer of hope in what seemed to be shaping up into an underdog story - a helicopter spotted a man laying in the snow, two days after his family was rescued by helicopter from the snowy Oregon mountains. The news report believed this to be James, but spoke nothing of his death — concerned communities all over the Internet fought sensationalism in hope that, maybe, this ambiguous statement had meant that they reached James just in time.

News has been pouring through the wires all over the world - Under sheriff Brian Anderson has announced, James Kim is dead. He hadn’t spoken of the cause of death, according to KTVU2, and nearly broke down in tears on the press podium.

There’s not a whole lot I can say about it, because frankly, I’m completely choking on words. James Kim was someone I respected tremendously for making a living out of what everyone here at 4cr only dreams of, and although I didn’t feel it then, there’s a James Kim-shaped hole in my heart now. I’m not the only one that feels this way, but as of this writing, the news of his demise on Digg has reached a breath-taking 6,500 diggs, and over 800 comments. James won’t be missed - we already miss him now.

The damage is done - it’s time for healing, now. I can’t speak for the rest of the Internet, but I know for sure that I need to take a little time away to mourn.

Rest in peace, James. We miss you down here.

KTVU2 News Brief
The epic Digg thread
James Kim’s final CNET video, describing his Christmas list (Which included a Wii)
A video of a cat in a bowl, to cheer yourself up.

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