Yesterday CMU computer science professor Randy Pausch died. He achieved minor-celebrity status by his thoughtful, mature response to the news last year that he had pancreatic cancer and probably only a few months to live. Two quotes from Tara Parker-Pope's report on her interview with him [1], re his looming end:

I haven't found a way to clever my way out of it.

and:

Cancer didn't change me at all. I know lots of people talk about the life revelation. I didn't have that. I always thought every day was a gift, but now I am looking for where to send the thank you note.

(cf. Johnson Condolences, Deep Sympathies (2001-05-30), Universal Instant (2003-12-10), Infinite Sky (2004-10-15), Seize the Carp (2005-07-02), Arnold Bennett Requiem (2006-03-08), ...) - ^z - 2008-07-26

(correlates: EmersonOnLibraries, OnIrreducibility, NewtonianDogEarring, ...)