# Hunter S Thompson to be launched tonight (8/20) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 20, 2005, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-s-thompson-to-be-launched-tonight-8-20/317917 "2005-08-20T21:12:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-s-thompson-to-be-launched-tonight-8-20/317917/1 "2005-08-20T21:12:47Z")
Looks like they modified his wishes from a cannon to 34 pyrotechnic mortar shells, but otherwise, it looks like it will be a hell of a way to leave the planet: > [@](#): > > The shells were scheduled to be launched Saturday night from a 150-foot-tall monument erected behind Thompson’s house in Woody Creek, just outside Aspen. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/books/08/20/thompson.memorial.ap/index.html?section=cnn\_topstories](http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/books/08/20/thompson.memorial.ap/index.html?section=cnn_topstories) Anybody seen any plans to televise or webcast it? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-s-thompson-to-be-launched-tonight-8-20/317917/2 "2005-08-20T22:03:41Z")
I believe its not going to be telecast or webcast at first. But I certainly want to see the photos what will eventually emerge of the double thumbs up canon his ashes are being shot from. I can imagine the liquor bill for that party…yes, I said party, as HST wouldn’t want his funeral any other way… ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-s-thompson-to-be-launched-tonight-8-20/317917/3 "2005-08-20T23:08:47Z")
A bit of a hijack, I know, but I’ve been quite out of touch. Is there any consensus on why he shot himself? ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-s-thompson-to-be-launched-tonight-8-20/317917/4 "2005-08-20T23:26:46Z")
Go On then, Hunter! Hope it’s a blast… From that CNN link, Johnny Depp is funding Thompson’s funeral (Let’s put some damn fun in funeral) expenses. Reason # 652 for liking Mr. Depp. Xema, in that same CNN, link; Thompson was in a lot of pain from a hip replacement and a broken leg. It would be totally in his character, I think, to just cut his losses when the old body gave too much trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Cherry2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cherry2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cherry2000)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-s-thompson-to-be-launched-tonight-8-20/317917/5 "2005-08-21T00:50:41Z")
I have some of the [memorial beer](http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b301/Cherry2000A/GonzoPorter.jpg) put out by Flying Dog Brewery. Close up pic [here](http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b301/Cherry2000A/GonzoPorter2.jpg) They put out a golden ticket (a la Willie Wonka), and the finder gets to be at the funeral with Johnny Depp. Those interested in the whole story can read about it [here](http://www.flyingdogales.com/cut-gonzo.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-s-thompson-to-be-launched-tonight-8-20/317917/6 "2005-08-21T01:52:34Z")
“When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.” Here’s to the great Dr. Gonzo-the weirdest pro of them all. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-s-thompson-to-be-launched-tonight-8-20/317917/7 "2005-08-21T02:03:18Z")
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they’ve always worked for me. " _—HST_ ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-s-thompson-to-be-launched-tonight-8-20/317917/8 "2005-08-21T03:31:51Z")
Everything (including Uncle Duke) [went off without a hitch](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050821/ap_on_en_ot/thompson_memorial): > [@](#): > > With a deafening boom, the ashes of Hunter S. Thompson were blown into the sky amid fireworks late Saturday as relatives and a star-studded crowd bid an irreverent farewell to the founder of “gonzo journalism”. > > As the ashes erupted from a tower, red, white, blue and green fireworks lit up the sky over Thompson’s home near Aspen. > > The 15-story tower was modeled after Thompson’s logo: a clenched fist, made symmetrical with two thumbs, rising from the hilt of a dagger. It was built between his home and a tree-covered canyon wall, not far from a tent filled with merrymakers. > > “He loved explosions,” explained his wife, Anita Thompson.