The gifted polemicist, combative atheist and prolific author has lost his very public battle with esophageal cancer.
Author: Matthew Westphal
The Best Of Christopher Hitchens: A Slate Smorgasbord
Slate‘s June Thomas: “Editing Christopher Hitchens, who died Thursday at the age of 62, was the easiest job in journalism. He never filed late – in fact, he was usually early, even when he was clearly very sick – and he managed to make his work seem like a great lark.” Thomas offers her favorite bits of Hitch’s work.
What Bookstores Have That Amazon Doesn’t: People
“Bookstores enjoy a rare trait: To many, the store itself is seen as at least as important to the community as the product it sells. There are several reasons for this, which is why a Slate story published earlier this week called ‘Don’t Support Your Local Bookseller’ has sparked a small online uprising of indignant bookworms.”
The Equine Stars Of Spielberg’s War Horse
“The movie required more than 200 horses. But no role was more central than that of Joey, played by about 10 different animals treated with makeup to resemble the equine hero with white socks on each foot and a white blaze down the forehead.”
Maya Lin’s Newport Project Approved Despite Opposition
“Over the objections of a group of vocal opponents the city council of Newport, R.I., voted Wednesday night to approve the use of a small park for a permanent installation being designed by the artist Maya Lin to evoke the city’s past and to honor the heiress Doris Duke.”
Bradley Manning Story Headed To Stage
“He’s been stripped naked, dehumanised and denounced as a traitor, yet thousands regard him as the hero of the WikiLeaks saga. Now a new play inspired by Bradley Manning’s years in Wales, which aims to put him in the pantheon of great Welsh radicals, will be staged in his old school.”
English National Ballet To Tour With Street Dance Troupe
“Street dance world champions Flawless are joining forces with English National Ballet for a show and nationwide tour. The collaboration, involving 10 ballerinas and Flawless’s 10 men in a mix of street dance, acrobatics and ballet, was announced today.”
Indonesian Police Bust Punk Concert And Shave Heads
“Police in Indonesia’s most conservative province raided a punk-rock concert and detained 65 fans, shaving off their spiky mohawks and stripping away body piercings because of the perceived threat to Islamic values.”
Trompe L’Oeil Street Art For The 21st Century
“Argentinean 3D street artist Eduardo Relero has created worlds of wonder on pavements all over the globe.”
Annals Of Minority Casting Flaps: Cheapskate Producers Sack Dwarf Actors From Snow White
“Dwarf actors have been axed from Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre because … after stingy producers replaced professional actors with children as part of [a] cost-cutting measure.” Dwarf actor groups are furious – as are some audience members.