Although I did not like being a professor (the grading, the repetitiveness, the isolation stemming from the hours), this is why we teach. I think teaching, and teaching well, is very important, and this is why we do it. The Last Lecture.
Prof. Randy Pausch, Oct. 23, 1960 - July 25, 2008, NYT story. One hour sixteen minutes and twenty-seven seconds that you won't regret. Currently viewed over four million times.
See also the NYT page of web coverage of all sorts, massive and widespread.
