I’ve noticed all the articles about “The Last Lecture” by CMU professor Randy Pausch over the last week, and finally took the time to watch it today. Pausch is the co-founder of the Entertainment Technology Center at CMU, a master’s program which I learned about in person from the other co-founder while I stood in an incredibly long line at security at the Pittsburgh airport about four years ago. Don Marinelli was one of the most fun strangers I’ve ever talked to (the way he is described in the lecture is exactly how I remember him), and was so enthusiastic that when I got back home, I looked into the ETC and considered emailing him about applying. But I was in Houston, and it was in Pittsburgh, so I never did.

After watching Randy Pausch’s lecture, I rather regret that. The topic of the lecture was “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”. If you haven’t seen it, it’s quite touching, especially the ending.