Christopher Hitchens is Dead

I haven't much to say about it that hasn't already been said. I knew about Christopher Hitchens' existence because of being an avid lurker on the atheosphere (what a silly word!), but he always seemed to me to be a reference rather than a person. Bloggers I knew and followed referenced him all the time, but despite how much I want to be one of those people who follows references back all the time, I'm actually really intellectually lazy, so I just took the references at face value and left it at that. Before today I had read maybe two pieces by him and seen maybe one video or two.

Today I've done nothing but read article after article and watch video after video about Christopher Hitchens and linking back to them on my Facebook and twitter. J Daniel Sawyer suggested that I post all the links in a single blog post (which I didn't even think of doing because I frequently forget that this blog exists!), so here it is:

Articles:

From FreeThought Blogs:

JT Eberhard: RIP Hitch | What Would JT Do?
This is where I first heard about Hitchens' death.
"The man never stopped going, he never stopped fighting, and he never stopped living to the fullest extent he could conceive. Frankly, he was due for a break. I’m glad he’s finally getting it."

King of the Vultures Thinks Little of Hitchens and Christianity | What Would JT Do?
In this post, JT destroys Mark Judge, who thinks that maybe as death approaches Hitchens will rethink his position on the existence of god. (JT's response? Aw heeeell no!)

Kylie Sturgess: We Lost Hitch. That Is All

Greta Christina: Christopher Hitchens, 1949-2011
This one actually made me cry. I am not ashamed.

Ophelia Bensen: The Hitch
If you read this to the bottom, you'll see she's got a few more posts on Hitchens. They are: Hitchens the writer and simply Hitchens

PZ Myers: Hitch is not in heaven
This one also made me tear up.

Hank Fox: So Long, You Magnificent Sonofabitch
Okay, the picture at the bottom of this article made me unabashedly weep. "Thanks, Hitch. We'll take it from here." Indeed we will.

From The Guardian: Christopher Hitchens dies aged 62

Two from Vanity Fair: In Memoriam and Graydon Carter Remembers Christopher Hitchens

From Slate: Christopher Hitchens Remembered
Slate's full tribute to Christopher Hitchens, a collection of "tributes from those who knew him best—his friends, colleagues, and fellow writers."

The Longform.org Guide to Christopher Hitchens
This is an aggregate of what Slate and Longform.org say are the greatest magazine stories by Hitchens.

From J Daniel Sawyer's Literary Abominations: Un-Hitched

From the LA Times blogs: Christopher Hitchens has died: Fighter, doubter, provocateur
This one contains a number of reactions to his death from people all over the web.

From NPR: Writer Christopher Hitchens Dies At 62

From Shakespeare's Sister: RIP Christopher Hitchens
Recognising his complicated legacy. (personal note: jesus christ, did someone as smart as him ACTUALLY write such a terrible piece as Why Women Aren't Funny? REALLY?)

From The Moth: The Moth Remembers Christopher Hitchens
(Wasn't sure whether to put this one in articles or videos, since it's got an audio file, but sticking with this one.)


Videos:

From the Washington Post: Divine Impulses: Christopher Hitchens on his life's work

From Intelligence Squared: The Catholic Church is a force for good in the world Arguing for the motion: John Onaiyekan, Ann Widdecombe; Against the motion: Stephen Fry, Christopher Hitchens; Moderator: Zeinab Badawi

From Penn and Teller's Bullshit!: Holier Than Thou
About Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama. Hitchens is a source about Mother Teresa.


Tell me in comments if you want me to and I'll add some great articles by Christopher Hitchens as well to round out this collection.


That's all I've got. As parting:

Poem: Translation of Ronsard's "Quand vous serez bien vieille"

“When you are old and spinning by the fire”

When you are old and spinning by the fire

And sucking the last warmth out of its flame,

You’ll hum in a clear voice my poem’s refrain,

And you’ll recall my words and my desire.

And any maid you have will start awake,

hearing in her dreams my voice and name,

And for a moment spring will have come again

and revived the curve of your immortal neck.

I’ll be long underground, my spirit fled,

The scent of myrtle pillowing my head,

And you’ll be heading that way by and by—

Will you regret the chill with which you heard

My love’s complaint and uttered not a word?

Don’t risk the long years of regret, my love, let’s fly.

The original, and a few other possible translations can be found here

As always, comments, criticisms, and so on are always welcome.

Poem: Waking Up in St. Petersburg Dorms

Разбудил меня крик чаяк, и свет яркий сквозь гардини
"Пол шестого! Ну как так можно!"-- застонала моя голова.
Прошлась я по коридору; вид с балкона был как картина--
Свет солнце лиловой медью проливался сквозь облака.

Razbudil menja krik chajak, i svet jarkij skvoz' gardini
"Pol shestogo! Nu kak tak mozhno!"-- zastonala moja golova.
Proshlas' ja po koridoru; vid s balkona byl kak kartina--
Svet solntse lilovoj med'ju prolivalsja skvoz' oblaka.

The cries of gulls woke me, and the light through the drapes
"Half past five! Why me!" moaned my weary head.
I walked down the corridor; the view from the balcony was like a picture
The sunlight, like lavender bronze, was pouring through the clouds.



Comments, criticisms, etc. If you are a better translator than I, please contact me!

The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis

inspired by this painting by Rembrandt van Rijn and the Histories of Tacitus detailing the Batavian Rebellion

Gaius Julius held up his strong hand, his sword hand
He looked out over the people with one eye,
Fearsome, sombre, and wroth.
What did he see as he spoke his great speech?
The bright rage, like a flame in his heart
As it caught on our faces and climbed?

We filled our mouths with rich red wine, hard bread,
Stuffing our faces with glory and courage.
Batavia was rising, throwing off its yoke--
No longer would our sons be conscripted
Into any army but our own.

My chief made sword-oath, the clash of metal
Was a din, hideous foreteller of the battles to come
Did Civilis see his death reflected in the steel?
He looked sad at the end, thoughtful,
But he knew what needed to be done.

I was there—old man, grey-beard, living
Perhaps beyond my time, veteran of many battles—
And even I was caught up in the fervor,
Vibrant again as a green lad before a king,
Shouting for blood with the rest.
Tremble before the empty names of legions?
Not likely! Not us!

We had brothers in that army,
Sons torn from mothers’ breasts, eager to return.
We knew the measure of those men.

And Claudius Civilis, king and hero,
Conspirator and traitor, told us all Gaul was rising.
He wrought us, sharp and eager swordsmen,
Or flat and determined as shields,
Into the army he wanted.
He had cunning and courage aplenty
And we followed him into death.

Poem12: To E--

Here's a poem I wrote for class, two years ago, as an exercise in emulating a famous New York poet. The poet I chose was Edgar Allan Poe.

TO E——
upon reading her obituary in the Herald

Thou wast a dream I had, love,
That faded ‘ere the morn.
And in it I was glad, love,
But now that dream is gone.
And thou art faded with the moon,
And I am quite forlorn.

Thou walked amid the flowers,
So thy fragrance was a spell,
And thou danced in silver showers
That watered all the vale.
But thou art gone forever,
And that is not so well.

Ah, weep, ye summer maidens!
Ah, cry ‘Alack!’ and weep!
The summer’s gone with her I loved
And God’s asleep!
And I am laden with remorse
That I must keep.

Thou wast a dream, a shadow,
A brief surprise.
Ephemeral, ethereal,
Thou faded, quick as sighs.
And I would see thee, dream thee still,
I close my eyes.

Be well, everyone.

request for help

Reposted from Li-Bee's DeviantArt.

"I'm the Secretary of Power Soccer at IUPUI. Power Soccer is a competitive team sport for people with disabilities who use power wheelchairs. The game is played in a gymnasium on a regulation basketball court. Two teams of four players use powerchairs equipped with footguards to attack, defend, and spin-kick a 13-inch (330 mm) football in an attempt to score goals. (thank you Wikipedia)

Three of our members, Matt Griffin, Case Calvert and Micheal Archer are members of the Circle City Rollers and have competed in many tournaments including the America's Champions Cup in Atlanta, Georgia. They placed second in the Championship.

Here's some videos of them going up against Indiana Sudden Impact:

[link]
[link]


We're very happy that these three talented people have made it into Team USA, who compete internationally. While there are no scheduled exhibition games, they will be doing the World Cup here in Indiana, or in France.

The thing is:

$27,500 = Cost per player to participate in all training camps and the 2011 World Cup Tournament

That's a lot of dough.

Now this is where you come in. I can't really do much to repay people. I'm just sending this out so that people from the goodness of their hearts will contribute to a worthy cause. Matt, Case and Micheal worked VERY hard to get where they're at, and I want to do all I can to help them succeed because what they do is so mind blowing. Click the Link below and then click on either Matthew Griffin, Case Calvert or Micheal Archer to donate.

[link]

If you can't help money wise, you CAN help by posting a journal linking back to this one. Spread the word, every little bit of help counts!"

So I've reposted this so that you guys, the few of you who read my journal, can help these guys if you want to.

An Open Letter to Congressmen as Written by Joreth

the original can be found on Joreth's livejournal.

Dear Sirs,

I don't care if you, personally, don't approve of abortion. You will never be faced with having to make the choice to have one or not, nor will you ever face having your choices be limited because you don't have enough money to afford the privileged healthcare that you currently enjoy, and are forced to rely on government aid just to survive.

Your purpose as my elected official is to do what is best for your constituents, and as a representative of half of your constituents, what is best for us is to have old men like you back the fuck out of my ability to make decisions regarding my body. That ability should not be hampered by what we can afford, since most of us do not have the luxury of simply changing insurance plans to a completely privatized plan that can offer services without fear of the government pulling its assistance.

So quick dicking around with the abortion clause in the healthcare debates and stop cutting out women's healthcare options because you have a personal, misogynistic, old tome written by Bronze-age sheepherders that tells you to put us in our place.

Sincerely,
Someone who can vote you out next term but for whom the damage will have already been done