While it is a wonder as well as to our species distinct advantage that Professor Hawking managed to live and be so profoundly productive for so long, and though his death always seemed more imminent than most for that reason, I am stricken by this sad news. I will be sad this entire day and some forward but tonight I will raise a glass at dinner and speak of his life and contributions. I can't help but wonder, especially after being reminded by some of the videos of conferences in this thread, now that both Carl and Stephen are gone, who will take their place? Are we still raising any Einsteins these days?
Incidentally thank you for the ancient recording of Carl, Stephen and Arthur. It is an amazing reminder how far we have recently come just marked by guessing the Universe's age as between 10 and 15 billion years, Hubble not having been launched yet, and that crusty old PC . Was it running GEM?