There are two writers who shaped my own personal craft and, indeed, my worldview. One was Anthony Bourdain, as his cadence, compsure, grasp of the world around him, and ability to showcase the beauties of our pale blue dot, while not flinching at its horrors, captivated me each and every time I read his words or listened to him speak. He's the only celebrity I've ever mourned.
The other is Hunter S. Thompson, the gonzo journalist who shared Bourdain's lyrical tastes for the dramatic, gave insight into those marginalized groups around the fringes, and spoke truth to power, once penning these grave thoughts after 9/11, saying, "The towers are gone now, reduced to bloody rubble, along with all hopes for Peace in Our Time, in the United States or any other country. Make no mistake about it: We are At War now -- with somebody -- and we will stay At War with that mysterious Enemy for the rest of our lives."
He wasn't wrong.
