Hunter S. Thompson's Suicide Note
Rolling Stone has published the gonzo journalist's final written words. He left the note for his wife before committing suicide in February.
No More Games. No More Bombs. No More Walking. No More Fun. No More Swimming. 67. That is 17 years past 50. 17 more than I needed or wanted. Boring. I am always bitchy. No Fun - for anybody. 67. You are getting Greedy. Act your old age. Relax - This won't hurt.It was titled Football Season Is Over and appears in the new Rolling Stone with the Rolling Stones cover.
Posted at 1:35 PM
not to be disrespectful, but they sound like Radiohead lyrics.
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Funny, they do. Well, it was short, at least.
The man was one of the finest comics of all time. The fact that he even lived as long as he did is providence.
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i was somehow expecting more out of a famed literary figurehead.
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written after taking too many hits of acid, while listening to Radiohead and reading Stereogum nonstop for a week..........
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> appears in the new Rolling Stone with the Rolling Stones cover.
scott? what does this mean?
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it means the Rolling Stones are on the cover of Rolling Stone. with us yet?
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Though "the new Rolling Stone with the Rolling Stones cover" does make it sound a little bit like some meta-riddle collapsing into itself, which is as good a place as any for Hunter S. Thompson's suicide note.
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meta-riddle collapsing on itself, shit i am going to take another tab of blotter.....
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After a life like that, anything written down in a suicide note would seem anticlimactic.
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As justifications for suicide go, "I'm old, bitchy, and bored" ain't half bad. It beats "I'm too famous and my stomach hurts" by a mile.
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17 weeks in the nfl... eh (nudge), eh (nudge)!
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but football season starts tonight!
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It should have read, "I haven't written anything decent in 30 years."
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You little nancy posers, look up drug abuser/user in your Funk & Wagnell and see a picture of Hunter with Keith Richards peering over his shoulder...Hunter saw the darkness and hopelessness on the horizen and went to check out the otherside...our matriarchs are vanishing....I'm scarred
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As someone much more articulate than me recently said, he died as a drug abuser masquerading as a journalist, while he started his career as a journalist masquerading as a drug abuser.
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The thing about Football Season, Dr. G, is that there's Always Next Year.
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You were right the first time, Scott - the suicide note is in the Rolling Stone with the Rolling Stones on the cover. The issue with Hunter on the cover is from shortly after he died - before the suicide note was made public.
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Dope shoulda stuck with baseball...season's longer.
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Link to current Rolling Stone cover (albeit small, but Hunter reference is on top):
http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/8/3/9/5/7605938.jpg
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I'm just a posting whore today. Sorry.
http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/7/0/7/8/7608707.jpg
Have I made my point? :)
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Is this suicide note released under the Creative Commons license?
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thompson was one of the most innovative and challenging writers of all time and deserves the respect for what he truly was...a genius and a legend!
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I love H.S.T. he was a grate man who foght for us all. The letter was not to short at all, he was not one to keep us waiting. So I say good bye and "have mercy on you swine".
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gone are the days when the ox fall down
take up the yoke and plow the fields around
sound of the thunder with the rain pouring down
looks like the old man getting on
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The man who most influenced me to become a journalist. Who influenced me to act like no one else, and enjoy it with no regrets. It was short, sweet, and to the point. To everyone who never understood the beauty that was Raul Duke..... Be quite before I sick the fuckin leaches on you.....
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To my dismay, a author to ome of my best friends, AKA books, and cannot throw you into a coma of disbelief and intrigue. The truth has been lost, I wonder what he would've aid about Katrina. I can imagine it would be something like sort of the follwing: I told you swine They don't want you, or to work for you. You are their meal ticket, and New Orleans was like an all you can eat buffet, except they ordered up the side of euthanasia and population control, to filter out and cleanse the valued property of N.O. of the poor and destitute. It a self assuring note that governor's and mayor's had become crooks themselves to take care of their communities. Not uch an unfamilier sound when all the druggies and thugs the same in persuit of the same result: (make it happen!) Whether to take care of family, or self, or local government. It glad to see that some people will do what they have to do.
MAHALO!
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Hunter was an amazing man. To disrespect him on some lame ass message board is sick.
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People will do what they feel is the right thing at the time. Checking out on yer own schedule is not a descision that is made over a few hours or days or weeks or even a few years. It seems to be the "In Thing" with all of our greatest writers. Not that checking out on yer own schedule is gonna make you a great writer. But great writers can be very tortured souls, just looking fer some rest. It is merely portal to another dimension. I prefer to watch this existance of mine till it winds down on it's own destruction. I think it's gonna be an exciting show an' I just don' wanna miss the big ending to it. Mr. Thompson was very influential to quite a few people. Not everyone understood what he was saying all the time, but again who is? The guy just laid it down the way he wanted to. It was his descision, fer whatever reasons. I'll just be ever so grateful fer being blessed to have been alive while he was still around. He helped me in his writings to believe in myself, so in my mind anyway, I believe he will be highly rewarded in his next level of existance. The mortal coil has been lifted from his free spirit. May the GODs enjoy his free spirit. I'll miss the old fart.
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I might understand this poem from Hunter.
Pure genius is a lack of balance. It is incredible joy and incredible hurt.
Getting older means losing everything that you love with pure abandon. Knees, hips, writing..
A balanced person might handle, and even enjoy, getting older. No way for Hunter.
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I have to agree with Steph, you dirtbags prob maybee read a few lines of F&L in LV, then couldnt grasp that it wasent all about drugs, and we know how you dipshits like to see people get high and not actualy do it yourself. So in dismay, you rolled the book up real tight, lubed it(spirkkk), then inserted it where you have many of other things you will never understand.
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you bastard who said he hasn't written anything good in 30 years, you goto hell. have you even read anything other than fear and loathing in las vegass... did you even read that, or just see the movie?
you goto hell... then hunter can smack you.
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you bastard who said he hasn't written anything good in 30 years, you goto hell. have you even read anything other than fear and loathing in las vegass... did you even read that, or just see the movie?
you goto hell... then hunter can smack you.
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as a pure spectator can anyone understand where he was at the point when he put pen to paper for the last time. if his work is testiment to anything it is that he was so wildly different, speculation is a futile exercise. no matter how many of his works you have read or how many times you've defended him against fear and loathing movie heathens, enjoy the work. stop disecting his note for the reflected glory.
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You said "I hope you live forever." Don't you wish that on me. You said "dont be clever."
To whoever reads these posts before you post them this is for you and your facist message board. Who exactly do you think you are even allowing such idiots to post comments about someone who cant defend them. A great mind was lost and all you can do is let loser 17 yr old kids make comments about his note sounding like radiohead lyrics. I hope once your short missery filled lives end the good doctor will be there ready to call you out on being such dumb fucks.
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While reading the Kingdom of Fear it occured to me that HST was assasinated by the powers that be in our current government. Yes, he had been in and all around the game for years and tjat can make anyone tired but what everyone forgets is that he loved it. It doesn't make sense. (Suicide) I think he was offed because he challenged the sheep in all of us to wake up and grow a set. Do something. Say something. What we have here now is disater.
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Hunter thompson was writing a book on his views toward the possibility of the bush administration's involvment with the september 11th attacks at the time he "commited suicide".
???
At the time he commited suicide he wasn't depressed or in despair. He was known to be affiliated with many politics in the white house.
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Wow, some of you have said some excellent stuff up here... unfortunately I'm seeing what seems to happen on every fucking opinionated forum I read - people who think that they are smarter than some of the other posters and take that as good reason to bash them. Everyone has an opinion, just like you, and should be respected for posting it. Just because you think it's a piece of trash and not up to your "higher" brain level doesn't mean you need to attempt to put them down. H.T.S. was different, he wrote opinionated stuff. People on this post are different, and are writing opinionated stuff. What makes you want to defend H.T.S. for his weirdness, but you can't deal with the fact that we are all a little weird...
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Respect
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I loved the rum diary..
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as was said above, "Respect" for a great man. He went away as most of us wish, but none of us dare. Thank you Mr. Gonzo
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Look, I'm only sixteen, I've read most of his stuff, and he's inspired me to become a journalist. Basically, he changed my view on the world. I have nothing but respect for the man. Yes they sound like something Thom Yorke and his mob could of written, but the way I see it... He wasn't murdered by the CIA or whatever. What fucking bullshit- No offence.
HST was a great man, and a pioneer of his field. I don't think he would really care what we thought of his suicide note. I bet he's looking up at us and laughing his fucking head off.
RIP Dr Gonzo. Keep a seat for me in hell.
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You numbnut people wouldn't smell a rat if it was cooking on yo mammy's stove, would you? If you truly believe the good doctor would off himself then you are truly, well naive is a kind word for it, actually! This man was murdered because he knew the actual sick disgusting greed that is going on in this nation and his voice could have become too loud, i.e. John Lennon. Wake up numbnuts of this nation before it's too late, please!!! If you give a shit about your kids and their kids!! RIP Gonzo, sorry they shut your mouth!!!
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You numbnut people wouldn't smell a rat if it was cooking on yo mammy's stove, would you? If you truly believe the good doctor would off himself then you are truly, well naive is a kind word for it, actually! This man was murdered because he knew the actual sick disgusting greed that is going on in this nation and his voice could have become too loud, i.e. John Lennon. Wake up numbnuts of this nation before it's too late, please!!! RIP Gonzo, sorry they shut your mouth!!!
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What's really left to say, everything's been said before about Hunter S. Thompson, but his insights, ideals, and the life he lead, who else woulda had the balls to pull off half he what he did? I hope the new movie does him justice.
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I can't believe you are all criticising a bloody suicide note. Thompson was a genius who's vivid and fractious imagination completed the work of the beat writers. Wallowing in a little suicidal inertia whilst saying goodbye to your wife is perfectly natural. No one thinks of the literary merit of their own suicide note when they're about to blow the back of their head out.
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I can't believe you are all criticising a bloody suicide note. Thompson was a genius who's vivid and fractious imagination completed the work of the beat writers. Wallowing in a little suicidal inertia whilst saying goodbye to your wife is perfectly natural. No one thinks of the literary merit of their own suicide note when they're about to blow the back of their head out.
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Pure Gonzo Journalism- in it's purest form.
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I think Hunter's suicide note was rather brilliant and beautifully succinnct. If you knew him....personally....it made all the sense in the world. He was a dear friend and I'll miss him. Do I regret what he chose to do? Hell no !
Hunter had a big brass set. Period. It was amusing to read these posts. Everyone has the right to voice their opinion----however, I must say that I don't fully understand why "stupid" people seem to do so.
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Alright, I am a huge fan of Hunter. I own and have read just about every book he has written including hard to find one like Screwjack and Hey Rube. He was a great man and my favorite author of all time. That being said he committed suicide. He was not offed by the government, that would've been a great final chapter, but it's not what happened, He was on the phone with Anita, his wife, when he shot himself,and his son Juan and granson were in the next room. The suicide note was on the table. Just celebrate the man's life, Starz is airing a documentary called Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride. Check it out.
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an amazing human being...
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The people that posted comments 'reviewing' Hunter Thompson's suicide note are stupid, sick fucks. Unfortunately we live in a world infested with such people while a legend such as HST has his life ended by the gun. RIP Doc.
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So, I hear that Hunter S. Thompson died. Not really. I already knew that. And I guess I will miss the guy in a certain way - the kind of way that makes me want to fuck Las Vegas and all the disgusting tributes to the rich, vastly expendable culture we live in. Also I am bored. Follow me. Everyone do what I do.
So instead of sitting here laying on thick, misspelled quotes from his work, essentially raping it repeatedly for all that its worth, why doesn't everyone go and make something of themselves. You reckon you know good journalism? Well prove yourself right. Go concoct some poignant article about something or other that people SHOULD know by now, not just what they think they want to hear. Challenge stuff. Anything that won't make my eyeballs bleed from apathy and exhaustion.
A few seconds to edit wouldn't go amiss, either.
Over and not quite so far out.
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Interesting site. I found it in a search to locate & reread HST's suicide note. (I guess I'm waxing nostalgic with the anniversary of his death just passing.) I think I can understand why he did what he did. Part of me thinks his life couldn't have ended any other way. He is by far my favorite author to read and read about. He acknowledged fear often, but never really seemed to be controlled by it. HST kicked asses and stomped the terra in a way that most of us will never do. People have the right to be critical of the man. The redeeming part is he gave these critics something on which to comment. How many of them will touch masses in the way HST did? I suspect few.
Anyway, it is saddening that HST will be writing no more words. He created shoes that will take a special kind of crazy to fill. His perspective was his talent, and it was as unique as anything I have ever known. He pushed just about every limit and lived enough to write about it. I like to think he pulled the trigger simply to test one more limit. What else was he suposed to do... sit around quietly and wait for life to catch-up with him? Maybe he thought he was just doing everyone a favor. Boring and bitchy is tough to live with. God bless him for being a man of action. He conquered fear in life, and loathing in death.
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Thompson was not a comedian. He was a Dr of Journalism. To say he was a comedian is a direct disrespect to the man.
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very well spoken Dave I coudn't have put it better myself
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He was by far the greatest human ever to exist
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*salutes*
i don't even know what to say... i've been reading a fair bit about HST lately, i can't say i've read his books yet, but, from what i already know he was a brilliant man. apparently living by the same general standards as i do - do what you wanna do and fuck anyone and anything that tries to stop you!
life isnt about anything except what you makes yours about :) and he made his about fun it seems, im going to follow in those footsteps!!!
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"buy the ticket, take the ride"
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I dont get it. It doesnt sound like Hunter wrote it at all. the tempo is all wrong and the words are not something he would usually use. Hunter writes a SHORT note? Vague? It doesnt make any sense. Sounds like it was made up by a 30 year old novelty card writer
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look i'm no sittin at home masturbating in my own feces, reading Guns N' Ammo, crazy conspiracy theorist but that note and the whole suicide thing stinks of bullshit. i followed the mans writting since i was 17. i've managed to read all but two of his books. say what you will about HST; drugs, guns, general craziness.. bottomline the man was a survivor of the first order. Men of this grand design don't go out with one self-served in the mouth. they go down with two fist fists covered in blood and a mouthfull of torn flesh. they always leave their mark.
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What did you expect the world to change before he finally gave up? I've been writing and screaming for years at the sick society! Everyone loves gonzo type journalism! Yet no one does anything. That leaves us with Mike Moore as the new protester. You sick FUCKS! There will be someone with the gall to step up and keep fighting and writing against the system. Maybe someone will listen and no more souls will have to be wasted. I'm sure Hunter Thompson is happy now, so the hell with you!
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Hunter wouldn't ever have died a natural death. He had said many times that he would feel terribly trapped if he were ever in a situation where he COULD NOT kill himself. However, the circumstances around his death make it appear more like a faked suicide. Hunter killing himself (at any time) should not surprise anyone familiar with him; however, he was working on a 9/11 expose, and said that he knew someone was after him and they would make it look like a suicide. Honestly, if he DID kill himself, do you truly believe he would do so with such little fanfare, while he was working on the most important story of his life?
...too weird to live, too rare to die...
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What's it...2 years now? Kind of funny, he kills himself,and just fades into obscurity. If he was killed by the Bushies, do you think there would be any questions raised by the media he's lambasted and ridiculed so deftly over the past 40 years? I think not...I just cant believe he would have left with so much fodder out there. He hated the Bushes worse than Nixon and that says alot; he never would have let Nixon win.
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Didn't he die listening to Ween?
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Hunter S. Thompson.
He was and still is a great Journalist. His words live on in so many people. Never have I read such soul searched material than that of the Holy Bible itself.
I don't care about his suicide letter, because someone of his caliber probably didn't off himself (you have to know the histroy of the man, and who his enemy was at the time).
But his work lives on in those who are intructed by his life, words, and attitude towards being politically correct.
Godbless your journey, to those of you who wish to be the next Hunter. That road is as dangerous as it will be exciting.
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This was not written by Hunter. He would never write anything that short, especially without an honor roll or anybody's name mentioned. He would never just write something to a general speaker, and especially not that bad. It is obvious that whover wrote this, did not read his work. Ok bubba, that's it. Ho ho.
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Who cares if he wrote it? Who cares if he didn't? Who cares if he really commited suicide or was murdered? The fact of the matter remains: he's gone and in a better place. Yes, i said better place. Anyone who read any of his work knows how he felt about life and reality and the world he lived in. And if you believe in heaven and hell, and believe that anyone who commits suicide goes to hell, you must understand that, if he did kill himself, he merely killed the man we know. He will never die. He will live on. Through his books, through his articles, through the people who knew him the closest, and through the ones who have only read a short, insignificant quote on some lame website.
The point is this. The man died the same way he lived, on his own accord. He took it upon himself to do what he felt needed to happen. We were lucky enough to have him for those extra 17 years. To the ones who truely understand HST work, we know that he would not want us sitting here crying and bitching about stupid things on some messege board. He would surely want us to go out there and pave our own way. Take what he's taught us, learn from his mistakes, and see if we can do it better. Personally, i believe he wrote that note. What was left to say? He's said and done it all. And as far as not mentioning anyone in the note? When has he ever allowed someone to steal the thunder from him?
The last thing i have to say is stop discussing this. If you feel it's so important go out and get the gonzo fisted tattooed. Become a journalist or author and dedicate a peice of work to the mad man. But do not sit here and cry and whine and defend him when others say he was a drug addict. He made his own choices, did what he wanted and didn't care what others thought about him. He knows the truth, and he's the only one who knows the truth. Thats the way he wanted it, thats way it will be.
P.S.
And to all the people who think they're cool for attacking a dead man a year after he commited suicide, look in the mirror. What do you see? failure. Now go to the nearest book store, or better yet, since you have nothing better to do then to sit in front of a screen and type until your fingertips are bleeding, go look up his books. Look up how many publications he's been in. Look at the sales. Now tell me. Do you really think your a better person that a man who did what he wanted, when he wanted, where he wanted, how he wanted and got paid more money then you could ever imagine? Didn't think so. Those critical thinking classes at the community college really paid off huh? Whether you love him for hate him, and you can only do one or the other, there is no inbetween, you cannot deny the impact he made on so many aspiring writers and millions of others. Rest in Peace Hunter S. Thompson, Take no gruff from these fucking swine.
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This is of all things a great moment no more cancer no more of this pitiful earth make of the earth and trip a day of a time
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This is of all things a great moment no more cancer no more of this pitiful earth make of the earth and trip a day of a time
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...strange thing is....there will never be words to put into this "leave a comment" box for this situation. Anguish, disturbing anguish is all it is...i miss him, and i never even met him.....
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fun fact- Hunter S. Thompson was famous for gonzo journalism and if u don't know what that is then you need to not act like you know hunter, any who who dilly as you know hunter wrote "fear and loathing in las vegas" and there was a movie later relased, johnny depp plays as hunter, but little do people know hunter got johnny into character, to get johnny to act out hunter at his best he had johnny sign liability wavers, soon after johnny signed hunter bound johnny, gagged him, tied him to a lawn chair, and threw him in the deep end of a pool. he did this to show what its like to go through drug withdrawl and the pains of this mans life. i can honestly say that Hunter S. Thompson is my hero.
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He must have been a Cincinnati Bengal fan. Hey man nice shot!
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And even now his truths live on...we are a nation of dancers. All dancing to the tunes played by the mega rich and powerful. (The Killers, thanks)
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