So Long, Mr. Wizard

Don Herbert lost his battle with cancer yesterday. Plenty of people who are more important than I am will talk about how he made science approachable, and how he influenced a generation of today's difference-makers.

So I'll just say this - as a parent, I measure the things I experienced as a kid by how relevant they are to the lives of my children today. Years ago, I spent every morning with Mr. Wizard, watching his household-item experiments while I ate my breakfast cereal. Yesterday, I demonstrated to my two boys that if you stand in a doorway and press your arms out against either side of the jamb, when you step away your hands will rise, seemingly with a will of their own. I learned that, and countless other cool little scientific applications, from Don Herbert. I won't get too schmaltzy about a new generation benefiting from his work even as he died - but I do hope that he had solace about leaving that kind of legacy behind in those final moments.

So Mr. Wizard, thank you. A person only gets so many "wow" moments in their lifetime, and I owe a lot of mine to you.