Wherever I read today, I’m given the impression that James Watson’s latest racist outburst is due a substantial response.

Bollocks to that. Does Watson deserve our attention just because he’s a Nobel laureate? Wisdom does not always come with intellectual ability, and neither, always, does academic rigour. I would give no more time to Watson’s cantankerous utterances on social issues than I would to BNP press releases issued in the name of Nick Griffin*.

* Griffin, in case you didn’t know, was educated at a well-known institution in East Anglia.

A new essay by Hitchens now available here.

How a shared tradition of ideas and values—not bloodlines—can be a force for liberty

Update: Audio interview with Christopher Hitchens (’about the last few columns he’s penned’ — and some other stuff, e.g. Trotsky) from Wednesday Oct 17, 2007… about ten minutes in length.