Dead in 2005

[Zanshin]

Well, if he liked things that went "bang," he must have loved how he went out.

[rjs246]

from imdb

Hunter S. Thompson's ashes will be fired across his Colorado estate by a cannon, in keeping with his final wishes. The journalist and author committed suicide at his secure compound in Woody Creek on Sunday. He was 67. The Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas author wanted a simple, but bizarre funeral, during which his body is cremated and his ashes blasted across the ranch, according to his lawyer George Tobia Jr. Thompson's friend, journalist Troy Hooper explains, "I believe he wanted to be shot out of a cannon. I understand it's in his will. That's Hunter's style. That's how he would want it. He was a big fan of bonfires and explosions and anything that went bang and I'm sure he'd like to go bang as well."

Goddammit I loved that man. That's some funny shtein.

[Diomedes]

I've read and heard some gloating comments by family-values fargs who characterize Thompson's suicide as proof positive that his iniquitous lifestyle made him miserable.  I know they couldn't be farther from the truth, but it drives me nuts nevertheless.   I'm in good company, though.  His family doesn't want people pitying Thompson either, and is making sure the media knows that the suicide was not a rash act taken in the lows of depression or anger.  Rather, it was a deliberate act planned well ahead, and carried out with courage.

link

Douglas Brinkley, a historian and author who has edited some of Thompson's work, said the founder of "gonzo" journalism shot himself Sunday night after weeks of pain from a host of physical problems that included a broken leg and a hip replacement.

"I think he made a conscious decision that he had an incredible run of 67 years, lived the way he wanted to, and wasn't going to suffer the indignities of old age," Brinkley said in a telephone interview from Aspen. "He was not going to let anybody dictate how he was going to die."

I really admire Hunter S. Thompson. 

[rjs246]

Not only that but supposedly he spent the last several days of his life surrounded by loved ones. That's as good of a fairwell as you can get, IMO. If he then wanted to spray his eyes out the back of his head and have his remains fired from a cannon over his compound, so be it.

[phillymic2000]

carried out with courage? If he had courage wouldn't he try and deal with the curveball life delt him.

spent an intimate weekend with his son, Juan, daughter-in-law, Jennifer, and young grandson, William, the spokesman said.

This sounds more like a coward to me. He kills himself over a broken leg and hip replacement? The guy is (probably) a millionare, and can afford special treatments. he should have bought that chamber thing from T.O. to rehab his leg. So he cuts his life short at 67yrs. old leaves behind a young grandson, and 3 kids. Why wouldn't he want to enjoy more time with them?

[Diomedes]

I call it courage, you call it cowardice.  Not much more to talk about I guess.

[mussa]

Zdzislaw Beksinski death by stabbing. http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/10962155.htm?1c

Bio: http://www.museummorpheus.com/contemp/beksinski/biography.htm

Some of his work:
http://www.museummorpheus.com/contemp/beksinski/index.htm

One of my favorite artists and also rumored to have inspired the artwork in Constantine

[MURP]

more stuff on Hunter S Thompson- his wife speaks etc.     

[Wingspan]

carried out with courage? If he had courage wouldn't he try and deal with the curveball life delt him.

spent an intimate weekend with his son, Juan, daughter-in-law, Jennifer, and young grandson, William, the spokesman said.

This sounds more like a coward to me. He kills himself over a broken leg and hip replacement? The guy is (probably) a millionare, and can afford special treatments. he should have bought that chamber thing from T.O. to rehab his leg. So he cuts his life short at 67yrs. old leaves behind a young grandson, and 3 kids. Why wouldn't he want to enjoy more time with them?

i agree with you here. suicide is a cowardly act of finding the easy way out of things. while having absolutely no concerns of how what you will do to your family and friends. it's the single most selfish thing any person can do. i can't feel bad for anyone who offs themself. i feel for their family, and friends, and admirers. just not the person.

not gonna get in a fight about it. just my thoughts on it.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

From the wife's comments, it would seem pretty clear that it was really neither courage nor cowardice in this case.  It was just Hunter Thompson doing his thing his way as he always did.  He figured his life would never get any better, so he went out on top.  The fact that the wife's OK with it means probably a combination of that she'd grown to expect him doing whatever the hell he wanted all the time and also that she married him partially for his money.

Just my opinion, obviously.

[mikey418]

Zdzislaw Beksinski death by stabbing. http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/10962155.htm?1c

Bio: http://www.museummorpheus.com/contemp/beksinski/biography.htm

Some of his work:
http://www.museummorpheus.com/contemp/beksinski/index.htm

One of my favorite artists and also rumored to have inspired the artwork in Constantine

Too bad that movie SUCKED!

[MadMarchHare]

carried out with courage? If he had courage wouldn't he try and deal with the curveball life delt him.

spent an intimate weekend with his son, Juan, daughter-in-law, Jennifer, and young grandson, William, the spokesman said.

This sounds more like a coward to me. He kills himself over a broken leg and hip replacement? The guy is (probably) a millionare, and can afford special treatments. he should have bought that chamber thing from T.O. to rehab his leg. So he cuts his life short at 67yrs. old leaves behind a young grandson, and 3 kids. Why wouldn't he want to enjoy more time with them?

i agree with you here. suicide is a cowardly act of finding the easy way out of things. while having absolutely no concerns of how what you will do to your family and friends. it's the single most selfish thing any person can do. i can't feel bad for anyone who offs themself. i feel for their family, and friends, and admirers. just not the person.

not gonna get in a fight about it. just my thoughts on it.

Apparently you've never seen anyone with bone metastases.  Although this guy sure didn't have that kind of pain to deal with, I'm not going to get too judgmental.

[Susquehanna Birder]

i agree with you here. suicide is a cowardly act of finding the easy way out of things. while having absolutely no concerns of how what you will do to your family and friends. it's the single most selfish thing any person can do. i can't feel bad for anyone who offs themself. i feel for their family, and friends, and admirers. just not the person.

not gonna get in a fight about it. just my thoughts on it.

That pretty much sums up my feelings on it, but I can still feel pity for the person. Not necessarily for them because of their final act, but because of whatever caused them to believe that this was the only way out.

[Diomedes]

I'm on the other end of the spectrum.  I think the most selfish thing you can do is reproduce.  Suicide runs a close second.  But what's so wrong with being selfish anyway?  You wanna have kids, fine.  You wanna kill yourself, fine.  None of my business I suppose.

[Geowhizzer]

Leo Labine, Former Bruin, Dies at 73