Weekend Open Thread: Anthony Bourdain Leaves us for “Parts Unknown”

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This was one of the greatest TV shows of recent years, “Parts Unknown”, purporting to be a food/travel show while managing subversively to give a voice to oppressed and struggling people all over the world.  Now I think of it, that’s why I always said The Clash was my favorite band:  they made revolution feel like a party.  Well now the genius behind it, the chef, adventurer, raconteur and former junkie Anthony Bourdain has committed suicide in Strasbourg, France.  (see below)

Millions of people felt close to him, and one of them was our local star Gustavo Arellano, who was featured in one of Anthony’s LA specials.  Gustavo tweeted about Anthony several times today:

 was everything I hoped he’d be in real life: smart AF but humble, kind and even goofy. And a man with a huge heart. What brings tears to my eyes right now is remembering how he described with joy making pancakes for his daughter’s sleepover party …

We finished filming at midnight. A driver came to pick up . He idled for a good 20 minutes as Tony talked to at least a dozen fans who happened to be walking Cesar Chavez at midnight and saw him. Talked to EVERY SINGLE ONE. And listened  …

The only celebrity I’ve ever seen who appealed so much to the common man besides  was my dear friend Huell Howser. They knew they were nothing without the pueblo…

Everybody’s writing and talking about Anthony today.  Let’s just see a bunch of typical clips from his episodes, that’ll be best…

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“If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. Walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food.”

And his good friend Rose McGowan on the recent rash of suicides:

PS. Now that I know he died in Strasbourg, not Paris, here is a great piece of music about that town that you may not have heard, which’ll do for funeral music:


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"Admin" is just editors Vern Nelson, Greg Diamond, or Ryan Cantor sharing something that they mostly didn't write themselves, but think you should see. Before December 2010, "Admin" may have been former blog owner Art Pedroza.