A Wise Guy On His Way Out
Rainer writes:
I guess you have heard about Randy Pausch's last lecture, as there have been a lot of news reports about it even over here in Germany. If you haven't: Randy Pausch is a professor at Carnegie Mellon who sadly has only a couple of months to live. He delivered a FANTASTIC last lecture with reflections about how to achieve your childhood dreams, and I think it would make a great topic for your blog. To give you an example why I think so: For instance, he makes it very clear that he won't become religious even now, he says:
"We're not gonna talk about spirituality and religion, although I will tell you that I've experienced a deathbed conversion"
(Pause)
"I just bought a Macintosh!"
(audience explodes with laughter)
"Now, I knew I would get 9 percent of the audience with that."
The full 85-minute lecture is here.
A Partial List Important Internet Video Clips that I've Skipped in Recent Weeks:
1. Don't Tase Me, Bro
2. I'm a Teenage Girl in a Pageant Who Knows no Geography
3. I'm on the View but I Think the Earth is Flat
4. I'm Kanye, I'm Apeshit
5. I'm an Everyday Person in an Everyday Setting being Terrorized by Police (various)
5. Paris on Letterman
6. Britney (various)
And now this guy. Even if this lecture were worth watching without the irony of his impending death, and that's a big if, can't we take some pride in our rejection of the fascist emotional manipulation that shamelessly fixes that poignance right there in front of our exposed eyeballs, Clockwork Orange-Style?
Pasadena.
Crid at October 5, 2007 12:48 PM
Just f'r instance, I've seen about five internet sources recommend the lecture... But nobody even tells what field of study the guy taught.
Crid at October 5, 2007 12:51 PM
I agree with you on the emotional manipulation, and found him a bit sickeningly "up with people," but also found some of what he said worthwhile. And I find his approach to death very compelling.
Amy Alkon at October 5, 2007 1:22 PM
Plus the mac joke was priceless.
Darry at October 5, 2007 4:55 PM
I apologize for heavy-handedly harshing a sincerely well-meaning blog post. It just seemed so morbid.
Crid at October 5, 2007 11:42 PM
I must admit that I didn't feel manipulated emotionally by this guy at all. The only outcome that could persuade me into thinking otherwise would be if it was all an elaborate hoax. Currently, that's beyond my imagination for a couple of reasons. I wonder if I can even think of being as strong in the face of death as he is.
But nobody even tells what field of study the guy taught.
He's a professor of computer science.
Rainer at October 6, 2007 2:56 AM
I caught the first 5 minutes of this earlier, and am now sitting down on a rainy, dreary Sunday afternoon with a glass of wine to hear the whole thing...
eric at October 7, 2007 2:40 PM
That was beautiful, inspiring. His wife was beyond a trooper, being put on the spot like that.
As always Amy, thanks for the blog. I'm taking this Tuesday off now to spend a few hours showing my boy the old cedar forest in Kingston, ID.
eric at October 7, 2007 4:17 PM
Aww! And you're welcome. Hope all are feeling a little better in your neck of the back woods!
Amy Alkon at October 7, 2007 4:26 PM
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