At Two Ends of the Spectrum

A short blog tonight because I have other things on the cook.

Some Funny Videos:

I love Seinfeld.  It was the funniest show on TV and I watched it religiously.  TV has never been the same for me since it finished, honestly.  My kids and my significant other, at the time, could quote whole episodes.  (The kids also quoted Simpsons a lot also, but that is another story).  I really enjoyed the Soup Nazi episodes.  

For those of you who are Seinfeld fans this is worth seeing - a spoof on the Soup Nazi episode

You really must check out this Video.  ** Liquid Generation's 100 Best Movie Lines in 200 Seconds (video)  ** I found it when looking for DVD release dates.  Someone has selected the 100 best movie lines in all times and it plays in just 3 minutes.  All the best ones are there.  This will have you chuckling.

Now for a change in mood.

Dr. Randy Pausch - The Last Lecture

 

Carnegie Mellon hosts a number of You Tube Videos on their site.  There are University Lectures and Guest Lectures, and even a Panel Discussion which was chaired by Obama in July of 2008 - before he was elected, on Economic Competitiveness.  Some of these lectures are presented in a similar vein as the TED lectures  and are very interesting.  

I found the one titled "The Last Lecture" given by Dr. Randy Pausch to be a particularly inspiring video.   At the Carnegie Mellon University each year, a professor is asked to deliver "the last lecture".  Dr. Pausch was asked to deliver the last lecture in Sept 2007.    The Last Lecture Video has been seen by millions.  A DIGG article says it is one of the 100 most iconic videos of all time.  (It is a night for 100 ofs...)  

There is a few notable things about this man and his lecture.  After he gave this lecture he became a minor celebrity and was featured on Time Magazine, and (you can also see that on You Tube).  You see this University Professor knew that he had not much time to live when he gave this lecture as he had an incurable form of cancer.  Yet, the lecture is full of hope, optimism and happiness.  It is well worth sitting back and watching.  It reminds us that no matter how bad the cards we are dealt, the hand is what we make of it.  

 If you want to know more about Randy you can go here to see the April 2008 interview of Diane Sawyer with Randy Pausch.    -  Part 1    -   Part 2    -   Part 3

From all accounts he was an tremendously inspiring and well regarded computer science professor.  From this lecture and information presented about him through the interview wth Diane Sawyer, he had a lot more to offer us all.  It is sad that his life had to end so early.

 

Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch, who is dying from pancreatic cancer, gave his last lecture at the university Sept. 18, 2007, before a packed McConomy Auditorium. In his moving talk, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," Pausch talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals.

He died at the age of 47 on July 25, 2008.

Carnegie Mellon professors, alumni, students and friends regularly lecture on a variety of subjects. Check out some of the university lectures  (Or the Obama Lecture) here. For more information on Carnegie Mellon, visit www.cmu.edu.