Author Christopher Hitchens diagnosed with cancer

[Jokerman]

What the hell took this guy so long to write another book?

I've got a lot of speaking engagements to do. I've got articles to write, books to read, letters to answer. It takes at least two years to write a book and over a year from being finished for most books to get into print. In the meantime, you have me here. So chill.

(I know you were kidding. Am I?)

 

[Ristol]

It does not take two years to write a book, Jokersamharris.

 

[Jokerman]

It does not take two years to write a book, Jokersamharris.

It does if it's any good. Or three, four, or five years. Especially for non-fiction. It takes a year just to research a good book. And everyone's not a writing maniac sublimating the void inside them like Stephen King.

 

[Ristol]

Sublimate, and increase productivity.

 

[Jokerman]

New Hitchen's article on religion.: The taming and domestication of religious faith is one of the unceasing chores of civilization. - By Christopher Hitchens - Slate Magazine

Interesting excerpt:

Now to Islam. It is, first, a religion that makes very large claims for itself, purporting to be the last and final word of God and expressing an ambition to become the world's only religion. Some of its adherents follow or advocate the practice of plural marriage, forced marriage, female circumcision, compulsory veiling of women, and censorship of non-Muslim magazines and media. Islam's teachings generally exhibit suspicion of the very idea of church-state separation. Other teachings, depending on context, can be held to exhibit a very strong dislike of other religions, as well as of heretical forms of Islam. Muslims in America, including members of the armed forces, have already been found willing to respond to orders issued by foreign terrorist organizations. Most disturbingly, no authority within the faith appears to have the power to rule decisively that such practices, or such teachings, or such actions, are definitely and utterly in conflict with the precepts of the religion itself.