Monday, July 28, 2008

A message for big and small alike..



I'm having a hard time today--I'm grieving for a man I didn't even know!! ok--not personally but he was someone who spoke to me (and countless others), spoke my language, was an inspiration and someone to look up to all in one!! what a amazing human being--let alone a guy!! no--Randy Pausch was more a man than anyone I have ever known--he gave all of himself, literally, to help other and fought for this until his early untimely death--I will forever be wishing I could be more like him and trying to accomplish things--well, in his honor or so that he would be proud of me!! i can't imagine being someone who was so "on fire" that he could inspire, influence MILLIONS of people--some days I have the hardest time convincing one lone teen to do something good for themselves! I wish I had his passion, drive and ability to make the world a better place...to give everyone a message so powerful that it crosses gender/ ethnic groups/state line--heck even nations!! to give a message that gives back to the world...and make people sit up and take notice. He was truly a saint and I, for one, even tho' I never met him in person, feel that much more (what's the right word) noble for having known him...I wish him and his family the most peace possible in this hard time--maybe they can take comfort in knowing that he will live eternal, esp. in the minds and hearts of those whom he affected...

Thank you Randy....forever.

amy dressel

(in case you don't know who or what he is--see below). :(

also you should check out the video on youtube--it will change your life!!


HOME > Homepage Stories > Beyond the Classroom > > > An Enduring Legacy
Randy Pausch Inspired Millions
Randy Pausch, the professor at Carnegie Mellon University who inspired countless students in the classroom and others worldwide through his highly acclaimed last lecture, has died of complications from pancreatic cancer. He was 47.
Also a Carnegie Mellon alumnus, Pausch co-founded the Entertainment Technology Center and led researchers who created Alice, a revolutionary way to teach computer programming. He was widely respected in academic circles for a unique interdisciplinary approach, bringing together artists, dramatists and designers to break new ground by working in collaboration with computer scientists.
Outside the classroom, he gained public fame for delivering what would come to be known as "The Last Lecture." On Sept. 18, 2007, only a month after doctors told him that he had three-to-six months to live following a recurrence of pancreatic cancer, he presented a lecture called "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" to a packed auditorium at Carnegie Mellon.The moving and often humorous talk recounted his efforts to achieve such childhood dreams as becoming a professional football player, experiencing zero gravity and developing Disney World attractions. In the process, he shared his insights on finding the good in other people, working hard to overcome obstacles and living generously."If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself," Pausch said. "The dreams will come to you."The video appeared on countless websites and has been viewed by millions. Appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show, ABC's Good Morning America and the CBS Evening News followed.A book version, "The Last Lecture" co-written by Jeff Zaslow of the Wall Street Journal (and a fellow Carnegie Mellon alumnus), became a best-seller upon its release this spring."Randy had an enormous and lasting impact on Carnegie Mellon," said Carnegie Mellon President Jared L. Cohon. "A brilliant researcher and gifted teacher, he was a key member of our Human-Computer Interaction Institute and co-founder of the Entertainment Technology Center. His love of teaching, his sense of fun and his brilliance came together in the Alice project, which teaches students computer programming while enabling them to do something fun — making animated movies and games. Carnegie Mellon — and the world — are better places for having had Randy Pausch in them."Pausch was also a pioneer in the development of virtual reality, including creating the popular Building Virtual Worlds class.A memorial service at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh is being planned; details will be announced at a later date.He is survived by his wife, Jai, and three children: Chloe, Dylan and Logan. The family requests that donations on his behalf be directed to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 7000, El Segundo, CA 90245, or to Carnegie Mellon's Randy Pausch Memorial Fund, which the university will use primarily to support continued work on the Alice project.
For more information on Randy's life and legacy, read In Memoriam: Randy Pausch, Innovative Computer Scientist at Carnegie Mellon, Launched Education Initiatives, Gained Worldwide Acclaim for Last Lecture.
Related Links: Watch Randy's Lecture on YouTube About Randy's Last Lecture Download Randy's Lecture on iTunes U Buy the Book Share Your Thoughts

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Holding patterns...

ok--we all in Juneau here are tired of asking each other--when??
when is it gonna be summer/ warm, sunshine?
when is someone gonna make the decision about whether or not to build a road outta here?
when are they gonna provide fluoride varnishes to the school kids?
when is the next big epidemic of illness coming of the cruise ships gonna hit the town?
or the lastest (based on a newpaper article...)
when will alaska air cut its flights in/out or jack up their already-astronomical-prices?

it mirror my life and thinking currently...
when am I gonna have enough money to get around to adoption?
when is my mom gonna move here/ help me start my new phase of life?
when is the constant seemingly non-ending list of things to do around the house gonna end?
(i know that one is never; the other question is when will i have enuf $$ to do it all!!)
when is the store gonna make enuf money to be profitable? or not be in another holding
pattern?
when will i stop asking when?

you'd think after 40 years of constant flux, i'd be use to it and take it for granted, but lately it makes me edgy...wanting more...
maybe it's the "older" me that wants settlement....i think, however, it's the kid part of me who craves stability, no change (kids always seem to do better when things are constant for them...so maybe i don't need to grow up--i need to face and embrace the changes....

sigh. when will that happen?