Stephen Hawking was one of the most amazing people who ever lived. Not just for his intelligence, his advances in the fields of physics and cosmology, or his efforts to popularise science for the masses, but for the incredible courage he showed daily by striving ever forward despite being in a physical state that would leave most of us bitter, miserable and wishing only for death. He even manged to keep his sense of humour, astoundingly.

Lots of famous people, when they die, get called things like inspirational, unique, beloved, and so on. But in Professor Hawking's case, every word of praise is true. And that is very rare indeed.

The world is much poorer for his passing, but as someone else said, he had a brief time on Earth, but an eternity in the stars.

People often use the term hero in cases like this, but I don't think it's right.

Life dealt Stephen Hawking a metaphorical shit sandwich early in life. His brilliance in concert with his ability to be a science ambassador has some similarity with persons such as Feynman and Sagan, but he needed so much more in the way of guts and determination to overcome his circumstances let alone to push to such an illustrious level of achievement.

I wish we had a word for this, but ultimately I don't think we do.

I'm nodding my head to the beat and pouring out a 40 for my homie Steve right now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXLIzk_7KCE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh7pEV1mGUE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk5WMEzrZF4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjxWIlPjNlY

Anyone else in high school when even the cool kids were trying to read A Brief History of Time?

My condolences. A Brief History of Time is easily one of the greatest books I've ever read.

squiggly wrote:

Anyone else in high school when even the cool kids were trying to read A Brief History of Time?

*raises hand.*

DosDaddy wrote:

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)

Huh?

while I admired Stephen Hawking, I seem to lack empathy for people I've never known. I'm happy he outlived all his medical predictions!
(and thread cleaned up again)

He was inspiring to everyone. Heck, my great grandma is 96 and still doing pretty good.