Amis on Hitchens

The Observer - April 24, 2011.
Martin Amis hails the peerless intelligence and rhetorical ingenuity of his exceptional friend, Christopher Hitchens.

"..Christopher is one of the most terrifying rhetoricians that the world has yet seen. Lenin used to boast that his objective, in debate, was not rebuttal and then refutation: it was the "destruction" of his interlocutor. This isn't Christopher's policy – but it is his practice." 

Full Article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/apr/24/amis-hitchens-world

Hitchens' address to American Atheists

via PZ Myers / Pharyngula

"Christopher Hitchens was scheduled to appear at the American Atheist convention, but had to cancel because of his illness. He sent this letter instead.

Dear fellow-unbelievers,

Nothing would have kept me from joining you except the loss of my voice (at least my speaking voice) which in turn is due to a long argument I am currently having with the specter of death. Nobody ever wins this argument, though there are some solid points to be made while the discussion goes on."

Read More http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011/04/hitchens_address_to_american_a.php

Beware the In-Laws

Does Kate Middleton really want to marry into a family like this?
By Christopher Hitchens

"A hereditary monarch, observed Thomas Paine, is as absurd a proposition as a hereditary doctor or mathematician. But try pointing this out when everybody is seemingly moist with excitement about the cake plans and gown schemes of the constitutional absurdity's designated mother-to-be."
Read More (Slate)

Hitch In Confidence

Hitchens interviewed by Laurie Taylor. Aired April 14, 2011, Sky Arts 1.

In Confidence: Peter and Christopher Hitchens, Sky Arts 1, review. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8451761/In-Confidence-Peter-and-Christopher-Hitchens-Sky-Arts-1-review.html

Christopher Hitchens: most provocative quotes

The Telegraph

In Confidence: Peter and Christopher Hitchens airs on Sky Arts 1/SAHD on Thursday at 10.00pm and 11.00pm.

"The writer, polemicist and devout atheist Christopher Hitchens is known for his confrontational style of debate. Here we list some of his more controversial outbursts."

Plus related articles.. (US 'nasty and boring, 'I told my brother he was adopted'..)

Read More (telegraph.co.uk)

Happy Birthday Christopher Hitchens !

Enjoy your day, Christopher. All the best to you and your family, you're in our thoughts.

An Ode to Christopher Hitchens

"A fangirl's tribute to the great Hitch."

Philip Larkin, the Impossible Man

How the most exasperating of poets met his match
By Christopher Hitchens

"IN MAY 1941, Philip Larkin was the treasurer of the Oxford University English Club and in that capacity had to take the visiting speaker George Orwell out to dinner after he had addressed the membership on the subject of “Literature and Totalitarianism.” Larkin’s main recollection: “We took Dylan Thomas to the Randolph and George Orwell to the not-so-good hotel. I suppose it was my first essay in practical criticism."

Read More (The Atlantic)

American Atheists 2011 Convention Update

"CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS (Canceled due to health problems -- Mr. Hitchens will write an original letter to be read at the convention.)"

Dave Silverman, President of American Atheists: Hitchens can't make the convention even by video. He will (hopefully) be writing a statement to be read instead. I am very sad that such a lovely light is growing so dim.

VIDEO: http://www.vimeo.com/23215997

http://www.atheists.org/events/National_Convention

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=202382073115612&id=172185706135249

Africa's Worst Dictator

How has Robert Mugabe been able to rule Zimbabwe for so long?
By Christopher Hitchens

"Now that the South African political leadership has—after years of shameful silence and even complicity—declined to continue its open-ended indulgence of Robert Mugabe, it becomes possible to envisage a time when Zimbabwe will be free of the hideous regime of one man and one-party rule."
Read More (Slate)

Christopher and Peter In Confidence

SKY ARTS 1 / HD: THU 14 APR, 10PM

"Sky Arts is screening back-to-back interviews with the Hitchens brothers: writer Peter who's known for his conservative and pro-religious stance and writer Christopher who's liberal, left-wing and antitheist (look it up, we had to)."

http://tv.sky.com/peter-hitchens-in-confidence

http://video.sky.com/skyarts/related/24693/Christopher%20Hitchens:%20In%20Confidence

Before you ask, I don't know when these interviews were recorded. If somebody knows, please tell.

Vote for Hitchens!

UPDATE - April 22, 2011
Full list The 2011 Time 100:
http://ti.me/hkiUkx
No Hitch, but there's always next year.

Cast your votes for the leaders, artists, innovators, icons and heroes that you think are the most influential people in the world. The winner will be included in the TIME 100. Voting closes on April 14

Do you think Christopher Hitchens has influence?
Go to: http://ti.me/gohfOs

Cynicism by the Book

Hamid Karzai's despicable response to the Quran burning in Florida.
By Christopher Hitchens

"Heinrich Heine's famous observation about book burning—that where books are burned, people also will be—was actually first made about the torching of the Quran. The Spanish Inquisition used to delight in putting heretical works "on trial," and zealously convicted the Muslim holy book before feeding it to the flames in what is one of Christianity's oldest traditions."

Read More (Slate)

American Atheists 2011 Convention

From American Atheists' website:
Christopher Hitchens Live via Skype
"Due to his medical circumstances, Mr. Hitchens will NOT be able to get to Des Moines in person."

http://www.atheists.org/events/National_Convention