Xmas Wishlist ~ Ingersoll’s Essential Wants!

Thanks to Cynical-C for spotting Robert Ingersoll’s What I Want for Christmas. Some favorite highlights...

"If I had the power to produce exactly what I want for next Christmas, I would have all the kings and emperors resign and allow the people to govern themselves [...] I would have all the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests and clergymen admit that they know nothing about theology, nothing about hell or heaven, nothing about the destiny of the human race, nothing about devils or ghosts, gods or angels. I would have them tell all their “flocks” to think for themselves [...] I would like to see all the politicians changed to statesmen -- to men who long to make their country great and free -- to men who care more for public good than private gain -- men who long to be of use. I would like to see all the editors of papers and magazines agree to print the truth and nothing but the truth, to avoid all slander and misrepresentation, and to let the private affairs of the people alone. [...] I would like to see the millionaires unite and form a trust for the public good. I would like to see a fair division of profits between capital and labor, so that the toiler could save enough to mingle a little June with the December of his life [...] I would like to see the whole world free -- free from injustice -- free from superstition. This will do for next Christmas. The following Christmas, I may want more."

R.I.P. Christopher Hitchens ~ Silenced By Cancer

Terrible to hear iconoclastic oracle Christopher Hitchens has been consumed by his cancer. Never one to hold back or engage in half-measures, Hitchens was fighting life's scourges -- social, political, philosophical, and biological -- till the last possible moments. Writes Juli Weiner in Vanity Fair...

"At the end, Hitchens was more engaged, relentless, hilarious, observant, and intelligent than just about everyone else -- just as he had been for the last four decades. “My chief consolation in this year of living dyingly has been the presence of friends,” he wrote in the June 2011 issue. He died in their presence, too, at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. May his 62 years of living, well, so livingly console the many of us who will miss him dearly."

CH's brother Peter remembers him in the DailyMail and salutes his courage. See here VF's pointer to all CH's appearances with Jon Stewart on the DailyShow. The Guardian summarizes CH's best bon mots. Here's CH's last interview with Richard Dawkins in the New Statesman. And thanks to Cynical-C for spotting Best of Hitchslap clips...

JazzLink ~ Thursday 31 January 2008 ~ 6-9p @ MIT

This Thursday 31 January 2008 from 6p - 9p, MIT grad students & visiting entrepreneurs will attend JazzLink organized by TechLink! This campus-wide meeting of inventive & entrepreneurially-minded students is a great place to unwind and network while listening to live Jazz and sampling tasty morsels. Held in Morss Hall, Walker Memorial. And since we live in a police state -- MA, USA -- which enforces unconstitutional drinking age laws, please remember to bring your 21+ Age ID (passport/driver's license) for drinks. Past JazzLink pix...