There's very few public figures that I give a second thought to when they die, but Christopher Hitchens is one of them. The world is a poorer place in my opinion without his presence today. Agree or disagree with him, he was a powerful intellectual and moral force and his writing was out-of-this-world, although I guess I'm biased as I did agree with him on a lot of issues.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011...ary?intcmp=122

If you get an hour free sometime, watch this famous debate between Hitchens and Tony Blair on religion. It is almost embarrassing to watch how easily Hitchens pulls apart Blair's arguments one by one and the former PM - who, let's face it, will clearly go down as one of the most successful British politicians ever - is left with playing to the crowd for cheap applause.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3kHRTUUJAI

Definitely agree about the world being poorer for his passing.  Need to find some time to watch that video now: Hutchens talking on religion is always a delight, but add in Blair being pulled apart and that makes it unmissable for me!

Not sure I've ever heard someone talk so eloquently about cancer before than Hitchens:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/9233571.stm

The hashtag row going on is deliciously ironic.

I always enjoyed Hitchens writing.  He will be missed.

He was definitely a very interesting man and a fierce debater.  Being an atheist and a supporter of the Iraq war there are probably not a whole lot of people who would agree with him onevery issue, but he always was thought provoking.