It's been nearly two weeks now since someone calling themselves blindelephant reported on reddit that Hitch had come a cropper;
A friend of mine leaving for a trip to Europe just wrote on his FB that Christopher Hitchens, also on the plane, was stretcher-ed off by EMT personnel.
Apparently he was having breathing issues. Has anyone else heard any details of this?
No further details have been forthcoming yet— where is the tabloid media when you really need 'em? — but confirmation that something was indeed up came from a succession of cancellation notices for his latest book tour appearances up and down the US. For instance:
June 23, Portland: Just found out that the Hitchens reading that was scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday the 23rd at Powells Books has been canceled.
June 27, Menlo Park: Unfortunately, Mr. Hitchens has had a personal matter arise that will keep him from coming to the Bay Area at this time. Hopefully, we will be able to reschedule this event soon.
June 27, San Jose: CANCELLED: Christopher Hitchens, Author of "Hitch 22 - A Memoir" Sunday, June 27 5:30 pm at Historic Hoover Theater, San Jose, CA
June 28, LA: For personal reasons, Christopher Hitchens has been forced to cancel his trip to LA. Please accept our apologies and Christopher’s regrets for the inconvenience. He was very much looking forward to this engagement.
July 8, Houston: Brazos Bookstore and Hachette Book Group regret to announce that Christopher Hitchens has cancelled his July 8 appearance due to personal reasons.
July 8 seems far enough down the road to suggest that whatever is this personal reason is, it must be serious if it is keeping him away from the podium for the best part of a month. What could have happened and where could he have been taken off to? Of course, he may be in an ICU somewhere hooked up to breathing equipment, or he may have been parachuted into Iran with the SAS ahead of the impending surgical strikes planned for that nation, or he may be laying on a beach anonymously sipping tequila sunrises and reading a stack of novels. But my two best guesses are the Betty Ford Clinic, where they attempt to detoxify the hopelessly dipsomaniacal, and the Mayo Clinic, where the focus is on taking some of the babble out of the psyche. According to the Mayo:
Narcissistic personality disorder is a serious emotional disturbance characterized by a grandiose, or extremely exaggerated, sense of self-importance. Individuals with this disorder lack empathy for other people but need constant admiration from them.
Narcissistic personality disorder is one of several types of personality disorders, all of which reflect an inability in the affected person to accept the demands and limitations of the world. These disorders may regularly interfere with a person's behavior and interactions with family, friends or co-workers. Among the other personality disorders are paranoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
Although people with narcissistic personality disorder have an exaggerated image of their own importance, they have vulnerable self-esteems and often don't like themselves. Therefore, they seek attention that confirms their grandiosity. When feedback doesn't validate their exaggerated image, they tend to lash out or withdraw.
Narcissistic personality disorder, which is less common than other personality disorders, is estimated to affect less than 1 percent of the general population. Some studies indicate that it's more common among men. The primary treatment is psychotherapy.
And there's more:
Signs and symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder may include: Grandiose sense of one's own abilities or achievements
Fantasies about having exceptional power, attractiveness or success
Sense of belonging to an exclusive group of people who truly understand each other
Need for constant praise
Expectations of special treatment
Exploitation of other people
Lack of empathy for other people
Envy of other people or a belief that you are the subject of other people's envy
Haughty or arrogant behaviors
Individuals with narcissistic personality disorder may come across as conceited or snobbish. They often monopolize conversation. They may belittle or look down on people they perceive as inferior. When they don't receive the special treatment to which they feel entitled, they may become very impatient or angry.
“The enemies of intolerance cannot be tolerant." • "If it is an offense to justice to hold people who may have been victims of mistaken identity or of vendettas by other factions, then it is also an offense to justice to release psychopathic killers who believe that they have divine permission to throw acid in the faces of girls who want to attend school." • "Don't be such a lesbian!
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