Between the lines.The Last Lecture By Randy Pausch Randy Pausch (born Randolph Frederick Pausch October 23, 1960) is a Professor of Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, and Design at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). Pausch received his bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Brown University and his Ph.D. with Jeffrey Zaslow Jeffrey Zaslow is an American journalist and columnist for the Wall Street Journal. From 1987 to 2001, he worked at the Chicago Sun-Times as the replacement advice columnist for Ann Landers, winning the job over 12,000 other applicants. Hyperion, 2008; 206 pp.; $21.95 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SHORTLY AFTER RANDY PAUSCH DELIVERED his "last lecture" at Carnegie Melton mel·ton n. A heavy woolen cloth used chiefly for making overcoats and hunting jackets. [After Melton Mowbray, an urban district of central England.] University (Pa.) in September 2007, his talk became an instant online sensation. Now it has been turned into a best seller. The Last Lecture tells the story behind Pausch's lecture, given around the time Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer pancreatic cancer Malignant tumour of the pancreas. Risk factors include smoking, a diet high in fat, exposure to certain industrial products, and diseases such as diabetes and chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatic cancer is more common in men. and told he had only a few months to live. Pausch, a computer science professor, decided that the lecture, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," would reflect on the lessons he learned along his life journey. Using slides, Pausch discussed the importance of overcoming obstacles and how he accomplished his childhood dreams in adulthood--including designing rides for Disney, walking in zero gravity zero gravity n. The condition of apparent weightlessness occurring when the centrifugal force on a body exactly counterbalances the gravitational attraction on it. , and writing a World Book Encyclopedia encyclopedia, compendium of knowledge, either general (attempting to cover all fields) or specialized (aiming to be comprehensive in a particular field). Encyclopedias and Other Reference Books entry. He spoke of professional successes such as the development of Alice, a Carnegie Mellon 3-D animation software project. He talked about his family. While growing up, he explained, his parents encouraged him in ways such as letting him paint his bedroom (his domain), without worrying about ruining resale potential Near the end of his talk, he brought out a cake for his wife, whose birthday was the day before the lecture. He concluded his lecture with a family photo, saying the talk was for his three young children. Zaslow, a Carnegie Mellon graduate, covered the Lecture for the Wall Street Journal, where he is a columnist. |
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