posted
I just saw CBS' piece on Carnegie-Mellon Professor Randy Pausch, who recently gave his last lecture.
It's become a joke among professors: "what would you talk about in a final lecture to your students?"
Well, Professor Pausch just gave his final lecture. Despite having terminal cancer, he's surprisingly upbeat and funny in the speech. I've only watched the first 10 minutes plus CBS' clips but I liked it.
posted
I watched this a few days ago. It really is a great lecture, and I'd definitely recommend that everyone watch it.
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posted
I just finished the whole lecture and found it inspiring and funny, a combination the world needs.
Posts: 6316 | Registered: Jun 2003
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I took a couple courses from Andy van Dam (mentioned many times in the lecture — and he was in the front row, too). One of the few things I'd do differently if I did my undergrad over again would be to be a TA for one of Andy's classes. Because I've found that the best way to really learn something is to teach it.
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posted
*Bump*, as Mr. Pausch has now died. I thought there was a more recent thread, but I guess not. In case the above links are broken, here's his last lecture on YouTube:
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I'm amazed at how clearly he knew what he wanted, or perhaps he grew that perspective as he got older. Perhaps he kept notes.
I liked how he mentioned incorporating scientists/engineers and artists. I've always liked the mix and dislike the divide which I think traditionally makes the two quite separate where there is so much to be gained from getting scientists to not think of more artistic people as wishy washy people, and getting artistic people to think of engineers and scientists as amazingly creative people as well, instead of dry numbers men and women. Obviously some of the perception implies to certain individuals but people like Randy Pausch and, for example, xkcd's Randall Munroe are/were ( ) bridging the gap with ease.
I painted my bedroom in high school too. It's dark red, with mountains and symbols from the fiction I was writing at the time around the top border. I was gratified to see that I'm not alone in trying to forge a little fantasy world in my bedroom!
Also, I wish real university was the way Randy Pausch makes it sound. I had a professor who mentioned the Master's program of one of my majors; he had left it because he was fed up with what was to be taught. He was a good professor, but an old one with little juice left to turn a stagnant English program into a sparkling one.
We need more 'intellectuals' full of energy like Randy Pausch in the world, and it's sad that Randy Pausch is no longer in the world. Thankfully, he seems to have passed much of his enthusiasm and ideas to others.
Rivka, I got the Last Lecture link from you, so thanks very much. Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
That's a good way to go, if you've gotta go. Pausch's university and his audience gave him a great gift by listening and applauding.
Too bad not everyone who's about to die before their time gets the chance to deliver a lecture. I imagine many of them would be profound. Some uplifting, most not so much.
Posts: 4600 | Registered: Mar 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Destineer: That's a good way to go, if you've gotta go.
What, pancreatic cancer?
I'm going to disagree with you there, having seen people I knew personally die from it (and the frightening thing is how little the life expectancy from diagnosis has changed in the last 15 years). Dr. Pausch clearly agreed.Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
I'm pretty sure Destineer meant his attitude and his ability to make that he 'got the last word', as it were.
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posted
I think it's important to realize than while his last lecture is amazing, forgetting that he was killed by an ugly disease, research into which is sorely underfunded and has been for years, is not something he would want either.
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posted
Absolutely. I was pretty shocked to discover from the video you linked that we've made very little progress. I hope I'll be in a position to change that someday. Not from a funding standpoint, probably, but perhaps from a research standpoint.
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I saw this book in the airport coming back home from DC, got to read a few pages till it was time to go... almost bought it.
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Blayne Bradley
unregistered
posted
quote: A devoted Star Trek fan, Pausch was invited by film director J. J. Abrams to film a role in the latest Star Trek movie. Abrams heard of Pausch's condition and sent a personal e-mail inviting Pausch to the set. Pausch happily accepted and traveled to Los Angeles, California to shoot his scene. In addition to appearing in the film, he also has a line of dialogue and donated the $217.06 paycheck to charity.
quote:This is, by far, the coolest thing (okay, #2 behind the palliative chemo working). JJ Abrams (Hollywood producer/director who did the TV series "Lost," the movie "Mission Impossible III" and a bunch of other stuff) emailed me, out of the blue:
JJ Abrams wrote: > Dear Randy -- > > Hi there -- I'm JJ Abrams, director of the new Star Trek movie. > > I read about you and your condition, and ALSO your affinity for things > Trek. > > So, I just wanted to put the invitation out there -- that if you had > any desire to be in the film (can't promise you role as CAPTAIN, > but... we could do SOMETHING!), it would be my honor and pleasure. > > The last thing I want to do is intrude, so feel free not to reply -- > but I wanted to make sure you knew that, if you are willing and able, > the door is wide open. > > I hope that your treatments are going well and that we get to meet one > day. > > Best, > > JJ
Naturally, I presumed this was one of my friends, playing a prank. But after a little sleuthing, it was clear it was for real. Jai & I hopped a plane to LA, where I got a custom-made Star Trek uniform and my own station on the bridge, where I had lots of buttons and controls. I even got a LINE!!!!
In addition to publicly thanking JJ Abrams, I just wanted to say what an incredibly egoless and cool guy he was. We chatted a little bit between takes, and he is so tech-savvy (and I'm not saying that *just* because he knew all about Alice!). Anyway, it was a truly magical experience. Speaking of Magic, I got to fulfill a long-standing wish of taking Jai to the Magic Castle on that trip, courtesy of Peter Farquar. MK Haley, who is herself quite magical, joined Peter and his wife and Jai & me for an incredible evening.
the "Star Trek" movie will be in theaters December 2008. Don't blink or you'll miss me, but at some point a guy walked across the bridge and says "Captain, we have visual!"
I'd *love* to show you my costume (which they let me keep), but I promised JJ Abrams "no photos". They're trying to keep things a secret; in fact, even on the Paramount lot, you have to walk around in a trenchcoat if you're in a Star Trek costume. It's kind of like being at a flasher's convention!
Oh, and if you think I'm making this up, here's a copy of my check from Paramount (they had to pay me due to some union rules or some such... I'll obviously be donating this to charity).
quote: A devoted Star Trek fan, Pausch was invited by film director J. J. Abrams to film a role in the latest Star Trek movie. Abrams heard of Pausch's condition and sent a personal e-mail inviting Pausch to the set. Pausch happily accepted and traveled to Los Angeles, California to shoot his scene. In addition to appearing in the film, he also has a line of dialogue and donated the $217.06 paycheck to charity.
Awesome.
and some more awesome to go along with it:
quote:On October 6, 2007, Pausch joined the Pittsburgh Steelers for the day during their regular practice, after the organization learned that one of his childhood dreams mentioned in his "Last Lecture" was to play in the NFL.[26]
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) bridging the gap with ease.![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
I had a professor who mentioned the Master's program of one of my majors; he had left it because he was fed up with what was to be taught. He was a good professor, but an old one with little juice left to turn a stagnant English program into a sparkling one.![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
