This post is a tribute to Dr. Randy Pausch, a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University, who passed away a few days ago from pancreatic cancer at age 47. He became an internet phenomenon late last year after his "Last Lecture" on achieving childhood dreams (see below) appeared on YouTube and spread virally. I had watched it a few months ago and found it extremely inspirational and moving. He had been aware of his imminent death at the time of that lecture, yet had appeared very full-of-life, passionate and positive - and infectiously so.

The finality of death is an extremely initimidating fact of life to most of us. I've no clue how I respond if I were to suddenly find myself with an expiry date with a definite upper bracket. I hope I manage to make real atleast a few of my dreams before I die... which incidentally, as with Dr. Pausch, does include being in zero gravity!