Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking has died. He was of course a brilliant physicist. I was once asked whether he was as great as his reputation or was he merely famous because of his condition. Maybe he wasn't an Einstein or a Newton, but he was a true genius who saw things in shocking new ways that are compelling in hindsight. Even without the chair, he would likely be the most famous and important physicist of his generation.

But as a person he was petulant. I can tell you it is no fun waiting earnestly a minute or more for a response only to get an insult. Don't ever meet your heroes.