Having a Blast

Hunter S. Thompson got blasted one final time this weekend. As per the wishes of the late, great and irate writer, his remains were shot from a 153-foot tower amid a hail of fireworks. Some 250 friends and family looked on during the celebration, which was largely bankrolled by Johnny Depp, who portrayed the good doctor in the film version of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Thompson's life-long love affair with guns, of course, came to its violent and inevitable consummation back in February, when the 67-year-old Thompson shot himself in his kitchen.

Regarding the bang-bang weekend festivities, Thompson's widow offered this succinct, and sadly ironic, explanation to AP.

"He loved explosions," said Anita Thompson.