http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005 by the authors Fri, 25 Feb 2005 22:36:58 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/21/003108.php#comment-122823 The loss of Hunter S. Thompson will always unfortunately be measured against the insipid contemporary reflections on the American psyche. In these days of political extremism - when civil liberties are under threat, and contrary voices are ever-the-more dimmed – undaunted voices of honest criticism and social commentary are needed more than ever. To the end, Hunter S. Thompson not only gave us the most entertaining ongoing commentary of America's political-social-economic experience, he steered us to the depth of America's heart and soul. Ultimately, sounding a horn and shining a spotlight into the darkness where no one dared. The King is dead, long live the King. 122823@blogcritics.org Fri, 25 Feb 2005 22:36:58 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/21/003108.php#comment-121526 >>You gotta love somebody who comes out with the truth calling George Bush a "treacherous little freak." I think you'll find plenty of people have done this without the use of drugs. Sometimes hard to tell apart of course. Not cowardice? Please shoot yourself then Top - but don't forget to leave a note: "See, I was right!!!" Oh and discuss it with your family first and describe how brave it is to them. I'm sure they'll understand. 121526@blogcritics.org Tue, 22 Feb 2005 23:21:03 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/21/003108.php#comment-121525 You have got to be kidding, the man did not have a problem with alcohol or drugs. The man truly lived, not too mention the man is obviously truly loved by his family (wife and son). You gotta love somebody who comes out with the truth calling George Bush a "treacherous little freak." Hunter s. thompson, now there's a man who truly loves freedom. I don't know if the crazies came around and bit him in the demonic ass. A close friend of hunter's had this to say "If he feared anything, Thompson knew how to hide it well." Many people cling to life in desperation, many others cling to the life of another no matter how painful their life may have become. "I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone," he once said, "but they've always worked for me." Maybe this time things were too crazy. But, if you ask me, it wouldn't have been the crazies that knocked him over to a fear so great and dark as committing suicide, but something so dark, like being terminally ill or something like that which would have led to a slow death. Even if it's merely that he had a bum leg and hip, hunter isn't one to spend his life in a wheel chair or bed-ridden. A man like hunter could never live a deteriotated life of any sort whatsoever. But, who the hell knows which way the wind blows which such a crazy dude. the truth of the matter is that it takes a heck of a lot of courage to live as hunter lived--out there in the world--completely opened up to life--and in this case, it took a lot of courage rather than as some of you have said, cowardice, to know when to bring down the curtain. He did more than merely fill himself with 'chemicals' and 'liquor' he has alweays fought for the dispossessed. 121525@blogcritics.org Tue, 22 Feb 2005 23:13:33 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/21/003108.php#comment-120880 Response to RJ: Cobain, Hemmingway and Thompson all had serious problems with alcohol and/or drugs. None was able to understand that there was a way out other than the way they chose. 120880@blogcritics.org Mon, 21 Feb 2005 12:29:53 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/21/003108.php#comment-120857 Well, no surprise. He is responsible for the deaths and ruined lives of many people who thought his lifestyle was "cool" and they got caught up in the evil that drugs and that culture have. He was entertaining, I will give him that. I just hope people see how he ended his life and then ask themselves if it was worth it. IMO no, but then again, I was able to clean myself up and find that true joy and happiness does not come in a pill or bottle. Godspeed Hunter. 120857@blogcritics.org Mon, 21 Feb 2005 10:58:34 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/21/003108.php#comment-120855 i am shock as well and make two predictions to soothe my soul: EITHER 1) HST was drugged up and the suicide was only semi-intentional or a complete accident (ie, no note) OR 2) HST was suffering form a chronic/terminal pain/illness yet to be disclosed 120855@blogcritics.org Mon, 21 Feb 2005 10:53:07 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/21/003108.php#comment-120839 Peace good doctor, perhaps now you'll find that sanity that has always eluded you. Hunter was a virulent inspiration to writers and adventurers across the globe. His death, though tragic, is at the very least somewhat predictable -better to go out at the top than die some geriatric burn-out. 120839@blogcritics.org Mon, 21 Feb 2005 09:38:05 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/21/003108.php#comment-120783 sad, sad, very sad. All he had to do was wait a couple of years and he would have died naturally. Killing yourself is a stupid way to go. Either that or it's a gov't murder 120783@blogcritics.org Mon, 21 Feb 2005 03:42:27 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/21/003108.php#comment-120743 Why do so many of the greats in the various arts seem to kill themselves via a bullet? Kurt Cobain. Hemingway. Thompson. 120743@blogcritics.org Mon, 21 Feb 2005 01:13:16 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/21/003108.php#comment-120742 ps obviously just a preliminary obit I posted a moment ago 120742@blogcritics.org Mon, 21 Feb 2005 01:12:15 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/21/003108.php#comment-120741 he lived by the gun, he died by the gun. 120741@blogcritics.org Mon, 21 Feb 2005 01:07:30 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/21/003108.php#comment-120740 Via aldaily.com (which will be the place to go for links tomorrow, guaranteed), the nytimes obit is up: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Obit-Thompson.html?hp 120740@blogcritics.org Mon, 21 Feb 2005 01:04:58 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/21/003108.php#comment-120739 This is the last way I'd expect him to go. It doesn't make sense to me. 120739@blogcritics.org Mon, 21 Feb 2005 00:59:55 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/21/003108.php#comment-120735 Didn't you just say there were too many posts on this already and if you have to do do one add something to it. Well? Where's the add man? 120735@blogcritics.org Mon, 21 Feb 2005 00:46:50 EST