<p>Cancer really is a horrible, horrible disease. Not so much because of how many people it kills but because of how it kills, slowly, painfully, and in a way that one day there is hope and the next that hope is snatched painfully away.</p>
<p>Oh SBmom, I think you touched on a mother’s worst nightmare. Thank goodness she could still make those memories with her children. This is a rough thread.</p>
<p>Prof. Pausch is giving his children a great gift via his videos. I think many people would be overwhelmed and not even know where to start.</p>
<p>Here’s an update in the Wall Street Journal on the impact Prof. Pausch’s speech has had on people: </p>
<p><a href=“http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119084081673940375.html?mod=hps_us_inside_today[/url]”>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119084081673940375.html?mod=hps_us_inside_today</a></p>
<p>Nupi, thanks for the update. Not only was his speech amazing and moving, as he also is as a person, but he has left a legacy and impact on many by the widespread publicity that has followed. I think it is great how CMU is honoring him with that footbridge in his name. It is very sad for his wife and children and even reading about his making videos for his children…but their dad will never be forgotten and has reached many and his videos and words will be there for them always.</p>
<p>I recommend watching the recent last lecture of Randy Pausch, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. It is inspirational and sprinkled with a good number of practical insights that can help with college and life in general. Sadly, the professor has terminal cancer with only a couple of months of “good” health left. But the talk and program are upbeat and fulfilling.</p>
<p>Professor Paush’s talk is about 1 hour 20 minutes followed by another 20 minutes of other speakers, for a total program of about 1 hour 40 minutes. Although my patience is generally for only shorter programs, I would recommend listening to Randy Pausch’s entire talk. Also, I found the following 20 minutes of talks interesting and worthwhile–it gives insight into how colleagues and a university might handle such a situation.</p>
<p>Currently the link can be found by going to the Carnegie Mellon website at <a href=“http://www.cmu.edu%5B/url%5D”>www.cmu.edu</a>. Or you could go to Google at: <a href=“http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=362421849901825950&hl=en[/url]”>http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=362421849901825950&hl=en</a> </p>
<p>I am putting this under “Parent Forum” and also “International Students”. I am not putting it on the Carnegie Mellon part of College Confidential as I believe this talk is important for us in general rather than to just a particular school (although I believe Carnegie Mellon administration has handled this sad situation in an admirable way).</p>
<p>I just did a merge of the thread started by the above post with the thread that was already going in the Parent Cafe.</p>
<p>This lecture is worth all the attention it can get. What a class guy. </p>
<p>Check out his website as well at <a href=“http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/news/index.html[/url]”>http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/news/index.html</a>
</p>
<p>I listened to most of this lecture today. Didn’t really have time, but couldn’t help but keep listening. What an inspiration. Amazing man.</p>
<p>Not sure if this has been posted before or not but the following are two links. The first one is a link to a 11 min condensed version of Randy Pausch reprising his Last Lecture. The second link is to the full 77 minute lecture. Watch the condensed version as it gets the message across but watch the full version if you feel inspired to hear it all.</p>
<p>11min version on Oprah: [StumbleVideo[/url</a>]</p>
<p>77min full version: [url=<a href=“http://youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo]YouTube”>http://youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo]YouTube</a> - Randy Pausch Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams](<a href=“http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=ithct48cqw]StumbleVideo[/url”>http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=ithct48cqw)</p>
<p>Truly inspirational I think.</p>
<p>Diane Sawyer/ABC are doing a TV program about Dr. Pausch and the last lecture on Wednesday, April 9th at 10pm. </p>
<p>Also, there is a book coming out in April called the Last Lecture. </p>
<p>Check out his web page</p>
<p>Thanks, BP – always good to be reminded of what’s really important in life.</p>
<p>Interestingly, the WSJ author who wrote the story about the impact of Pausch’s last lecture has co-authored a book with Randy Pausch about it.</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> The Last Lecture: Randy Pausch,Jeffrey Zaslow: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Last-Lecture-Randy-Pausch/dp/1401323251]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Last-Lecture-Randy-Pausch/dp/1401323251)</p>
<p>Also, check out Dr. Pausch’s lecture on ‘Time Management’. It is a hoot, and has some great advice.</p>
<p>The “Last Lecture” book is scheduled to be released on April 8th. I have pre-ordered my copy. I want a first edition.</p>
<p>Amazon.com has a preview of Diane Sawyer’s interview with him that will be aired next Wednesday. I’m looking forward to the book and the program. He has been in the hospital recently, but was recovered enough to testify before Congress in early March on the need for increased funding for pancreatic cancer. What an inspiration!</p>
<p>He is amazing. Pancreatic Cancer is such a horrible disease. Progress <em>is</em> being made – but not fast enough. I lost a wonderful friend two years ago at age 49.</p>