Christopher Hitchens Article on Estrangement, Vanity Fair, 2005

The writer Christopher Hitchens has died. I've spent much of my day so far reading obituaries about him and watching videos of him on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Among the many words written by and about him, I found an article by Hitchens on the estrangements that occur between siblings. It is titled: "Oh Brother, Why Art Thou" and was written in 2005. He had been estranged from his brother, Peter Hitchens. They eventually reconciled.

Here is the link to the article:

"Oh Brother, Why Art Thou?" by Christopher Hitchens in Vanity Fair, May 16, 2005

and here is a link to today's post by Peter Hitchens on the death of his brother:

By Peter Hitchens, December 16, 2011: In Memoriam: Christopher Hitchens, 1949-2011

and a link to an earlier post by Peter Hitchens on the relationship with his brother and their eventual reconciliation:

"How I found God and peace with my atheist brother" by Peter Hitchens, March 11, 2010

The Pitfalls of Online Communication

This is a link to a New York Times article on the pitfalls of online communication through email. (There is some chance you might have to register with the NY Times to read it. But if you do, registration is free and the NY Times has a lot of cool stuff to read!)

The Movie: The Squid and The Whale

The Squid and The Whale, a tragicomedy, depicts a fracturing family and the reactions of the two sons to their parents' separation and impending divorce. The squid and the whale reference comes from a monumental diorama of a struggle between a gigantic squid and a whale at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC. (Note: I didn't see a picture of the diorama on the museum's website. Just letting you know if you click on it thinking that the image would be there.)

The fight depicted between the two creatures is as monumental as the parents' conflict is in the minds of the sons. Each of the confused frightened and distraught boys responds to the parents' failing relationship and subsequent decisions in bizarre ways. Based on writer/director Noah Baumbach's memories of his parents separation and divorce when he was a boy of 16.

A synopsis on Ritz Filmbill
Winner of the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award as well as the best Dramatic Directing Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.
The Snicks' rating for this movie is five stars.