Oratory/Expos, etc. - follow up on a previous post

Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon professor who I've posted about before died last Sat. at age 47.

His CMU "Last Lecture" and an email i just got aused me to pause and reflect on the collective wisdom that he and they have taught me. (The below I blatantly and honestly steal from Mark Goulston. http://markgoulston.com)

1. "No dying man wishes he'd spent more time at the office."

2. While you're out trying to win the respect and admiration of the outside world who usually won't give it to you, don't make those who really do care about you feel like their love and respect isn't worth anything.

3. Don't let your emotional shyness cause you to wait until it's too late to say: "I'm sorry," "Thank you," "I love you" and "I'll miss you."

4. Wealth is what you take from the world; worth is what you give back a.k.a. In the end, it' s not what you have that matters, it's what you leave behind.

5. Smart is about knowing what will make you money; Wisdom is about knowing what's important.

6. Love means ALWAYS having to say (and show) you're sorry.

Extemp Questions 25 July 2008

• What more should the federal government do to curtail the rising homeless populations in America’s major cities?
• Is Congress really committed to balancing the budget?
• Will domestic inflation start causing America’s international trade position to falter?
• What plan does John McCain have to improve the US economy?
• Does America need a “carbon tax”?
• What steps should the federal government take to support Freddie Mac?
• Should the US consider removing itself from the ABM treaty?
• Will housing lenders require federal bailout?
• Can the federal government have a balanced budget while continuing to wage wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?
• How can the No Child Left Behind Act be revised to improve American public education?
• What qualities should John McCain look for in a running mate?
• Is American primary and secondary education underfunded?
• What should Congress do to make higher education more affordable to middle class Americans?
• Is it possible for US factory jobs to come back?
• Will Mexico begin to take some of America’s manufacturing business from China?
• Is it possible to move all US electricity production off of fossil fuels within the next ten years?
• Does the demand for oil by emerging economies such as China make renewable energy a viable option for the US?
• Will Al Gore return to politics?
• Will the main issue of the fall elections be Iraq, the economy or something else?

Extemp Questions 7 July 2008

• What should the G8 nations do to alleviate global hunger?
• What should the US do to lead the G8 nations in carbon emission controls?
• Has Afghanistan replaced Iraq as the central focus of the global war on terror?
• Will a permanent lunar base benefit NASA’s dreams of a manned mission to Mars?
• Should Israeli withdrawal from Palestine be a precondition for the progression of the peace process?
• Should the US push Saudi Arabia to reform its human rights violations?
• Is the Saudi Arabian justice system violating international human rights accords?
• Will Belarus and Russia merge into a single nation?
• How will Vladimir Putin function as Prime Minister?
• Is crime in America cities getting worse?
• Will the US automobile industry shift its focus to electric and hybrid vehicles?
• Can the EU incentives Iran to end it’s nuclear enrichment program?
• Has Rupert Murdoch’s acquisition of The Wall Street Journal proven that there is still some life left in print journalism?
• Is the era of serious American print journalism over?
• How did Barack Obama’s campaign become so successful at fundraising?
• Can the Obama campaign motivate younger voters to turn out to the polls in November?
• Is public campaign financing the solution to big money influence in politics?
• Will the Obama campaign be held captive by the left-leaning wing of the Democratic Party?
• Should the moratorium on exploration of offshore oil and gas reserves be lifted?
• Should resources devoted to the war in Afghanistan be increased?
• Is it possible to win in Afghanistan with the level commitment the US current devotes to the area?
• What factors and characteristics should Barack Obama look for in a running mate?
• Will Barack Obama garner the Hispanic vote in November?
• Should the US encourage the development of new nuclear power plants?
• Should the Federal government enact a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants?
• Where does the war in Iraq stand as an issue in the General Election season?
• How has immigration reform in the Western United States impacted immigration across the country?
• Will the American West be the key battleground in the 2008 Presidential election?
• Will rising oil costs sink the US automobile industry?