There's always a Hitch.

Christopher Hitchens is at it again.

Hitch 22: A Memoir

Writing books, being clever, and getting all showy about how book-writingly clever he is, living life to its fullest and skewering others in a manner verbally brilliant, (a manner that is both harmless and crushing to anyone found on the business end of his pen) Hitchens is so compelling that I am helpless not to watch whenever he is on-screen, online, or in print. If Mr. Hitchens took a grunting dump between two hardcovers and signed the front, you better believe I'd pay top dollar for it. And proudly show it to company.

This time, however, the subjects of the book are his own exploits and experiences. If you haven't seen portions of the media blitz he has undertaken, it's your loss. Rarely have I found promotional propaganda so enthralling.

I have added this to my birthday wish list and sent a quick e-mail to my loving wife, so if you're thinking of buying it for me (bless you), coordinate with my gal so as not to duplicate efforts.

Nike should strike endorsement deal with Herzog

CNN features an article about film director Werner Herzog, where he offers advice to film directors:

"Rejection is not something you should be afraid of," Herzog advises filmmakers just starting out. "It happens to all of us, in particular when you are beginning. You have to have the courage to move on anyway."

He goes on to advise, and I'm paraphrasing: "just do it," highlighting the value of experiencing things, especially in relation to learning things in academic settings. The story offers nuggets, saying: "the world reveals itself "to people who travel on foot. Period.""

For good measure, he throws in the value of the threat of bodily harm to an impossibly difficult cast member:

On the set of "Aquirre: The Wrath of God," in 1972, Herzog admitted he threatened to shoot Kinski if the actor made good on his threat to walk off the set.

"I told him it was impermissible for him to walk away," Herzog said. "I explained to him calmly that he would not survive if he tried. I had a rifle ... and I told him I would shoot him. He screamed for the police. The nearest police station was 40 kilometers away."

I think I like this guy.

Christopher Hitchens is a genius

... and also, this just in: water is wet.

Christopher Hitchens writes an excellent argument against Turkey joining the European Union. It's no surprise, as Mr. Hitchens has done nothing but make good sense for years.

For the record, my intellectual infatuation turned into a throbbing, rock-hard man-crush the day he flagged the bird not once but twice at the slavering, Pavlovian, "Real Time" audience when he dared to disagree with their collective, knee-jerk, leftist mob mentality. He rocks.