I met

[tenshi816]

Ralph Steadman, Hunter S. Thompson's long-time collaborator, speaking at a literature festival in my little northern English town tonight. He was promoting his new book, The Joke's Over: Memories of Hunter S. Thompson, and he was funny and poignant talking about his 35-year friendship with Thompson, and his outrage at what's happening politically in the USA today.

I had a brief opportunity to speak to him privately after and asked what he thought about the rise of Christian fundamentalism in America (and its hold on politics). He said that he believed the movement was pushing reason back to the middle ages.

He talked for a while about the torture bill and the inhumanity of it, and I came home and found this section on his website, about the http://www.ralphsteadman.com/04declar.asp">Universal Declaration of Human Rights, well worth a read.

Ralph Steadman had a genuine love for Hunter Thompson and, boy, did it ever show tonight. He misses his friend. I'm so glad I was able to hear him speak in such a tiny venue.

[brentspeak]

1. I get his work confused with Gerald Scaife

Similar styles.

[tenshi816]

3. I have too at times.

Very similar styles.

I was sure until about an hour ago that Ralph Steadman was married to Jane Asher (Paul McCartney's long-time girlfriend back in the 60s) - I'm wrong, she's married to Scaife!

[eggbeater]

2. How exciting for you

to meet him in person.
I would have loved to been there to hear it.
actually, I would love going to chuckie cheese right now and hearing the big rat, would be less irritating than the day nurse, but, thats another story, lets leave this one to your great evening.

[tenshi816]

4. Eh? n/t