RIP Anthony Bourdain

[TotallyOz]

He died of an apparent suicide according to CNN.

[Lucky]

I am shocked. The hubby has Bourdains' show on the TV a lot. He travels the world, must have oodles of money and then this? RIP.

[Suckrates]

 

The 2nd celebrity death in a week.   Grandma is rethinking this "fame & money" brings happiness crap !   

[Latbear4blk]

It is sad. He was a really talented, open minded, honest, humble, smart, and wise guy. 

He chose to hang himself. I wonder why. 

I kind of wonder also about happiness. However what challenges my optimism is not that he was rich and famous, but so gifted and still miserable enough to choose to end his life that way. Perhaps there is more to it that we do not know.

 

[RockHardNYC]

2 hours ago, Latbear4blk said:

Perhaps there is more to it that we do not know.

There has to be more to this mystery. Much more. When people take their own life, there is backstory that few truly know. Just because someone is a familiar face on TV, doesn't mean we really know the person, no matter how many personal things have been revealed along the way.

Bourdain was an admitted addict. He used almost anything to get himself high. Who knows how he dealt with recovery. Not well, I suppose. It appears from his show that he continued to drink quite intensely. I'm sure he was one of those who believed he could control it.

Bourdain was a very talented writer and producer. Much stronger talents for him than being a chef. Even though his TV face had weathered badly in these later years, CNN was just fine with that. His fans didn't care. They loved him and thought he was sexy and handsome. The guy was at the pinnacle of his career. Some of his "Parts Unknown" episodes deserved the awards they received.

I don't know what it takes to be creative and successful, and leave an 11-year-old child behind. None of it makes sense to me. It's possible we may never know.

[Latbear4blk]

14 minutes ago, RockHardNYC said:

There has to be more to this mystery. ...None of it makes sense to me. It's possible we may never know.

I should have said "I am sure there is more to it that we do not know" instead of "Perhaps.."

It does not make sense to us, but perhaps it did make sense to him. That is the mystery, and I do agree we'll possibly never know.

[Suckrates]

18 minutes ago, Latbear4blk said:

I should have said "I am sure there is more to it that we do not know" instead of "Perhaps.."

It does not make sense to us, but perhaps it did make sense to him. That is the mystery, and I do agree we'll possibly never know.

At this point, does it really matter ?   The point taken from this should simply be, if you are struggling with problems or demons, be strong enough to seek and get help.  Dont be afraid or embarrassed.  Every human being has problems. We are all vulnerable at some time, and there is help out there. 

[AdamSmith]

41 minutes ago, Suckrates said:

At this point, does it really matter ?   The point taken from this should simply be, if you are struggling with problems or demons, be strong enough to seek and get help.  Dont be afraid or embarrassed.  Every human being has problems. We are all vulnerable at some time, and there is help out there. 

I don't know.

I had a cousin so deep-sunk into depression from life-collapse causes, and then on into later-life brain-chemical-dysfunction stuff, that a bottle of 40 pills at age 62 seemed to him the only way out.

I cannot condemn his decision.

[I myself could never ever do that. As said many times here before, I plan to live forever.

Irritating the bastards all the way!

But I cannot disrespect the intensely private decisions of others to take a different way.]

[RockHardNYC]

1 hour ago, Latbear4blk said:

That is the mystery, and I do agree we'll possibly never know.

Eric Ripert discovered him dead. They were working on an episode they were shooting in France. Eric is Bourdain's best friend. I have to assume, if anyone knew anything, it would be Ripert. Maybe one day he will share. Maybe not. When someone dies, friends are often judged by their respect for privacy. It could be a tough call. If Bourdain didn't grant permission, a true friend is likely to stay silent.

[Suckrates]

49 minutes ago, AdamSmith said:

I don't know.

I had a cousin so deep-sunk into depression from life-collapse causes, and then on into later-life brain-chemical-dysfunction stuff, that a bottle of 40 pills at age 62 seemed to him the only way out.

I cannot condemn his decision.

[I myself could never ever do that. As said many times here before, I plan to live forever.

Irritating the bastards all the way!

But I cannot disrespect the intensely private decisions of others to take a different way.]

 

I am not minimizing his decision or even judging it,  just saying the reasons doesnt really matter in the end.  He made the choice he felt was right for him,  but with help and support, he might have come to realize a different end.

For the past 3 months, I have been in a wheelchair.  First diagnosed with a severe sciatic inflammation, i was soon to discover I had a ruptured back disk. It has pretty much taken away my mobility, and the pain is relentless and constant.  Normally aggressive narcotic injection or surgery  would resolve the problem, but because I had heart surgery in Feb, its a mandatory 6 months wait before ANY medical procedure of that nature can be done for risk of heart complication.   So here I am, and on a daily basis I pray for some relief, but get none.  So I can fully understand a person feeling hopeless and confused.  For a person that has always been 1000% independent,  my current situation, basically not being able to move is very depressing and relegated me to a "dependent" state that I am NOT comfortable with. 

[AdamSmith]

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1999/04/19/dont-eat-before-reading-this

[mvan1]

2 hours ago, RockHardNYC said:

Eric Ripert discovered him dead. They were working on an episode they were shooting in France. Eric is Bourdain's best friend. I have to assume, if anyone knew anything, it would be Ripert. Maybe one day he will share. Maybe not. When someone dies, friends are often judged by their respect for privacy. It could be a tough call. If Bourdain didn't grant permission, a true friend is likely to stay silent.

Suicide, in general, has been on the increase in the U.S.  

Perhaps no one knows the real answer for why people choose this method to exit life.  Some leave notes of explanation but do the notes tell the full and real reason for such a deed?

Those that take their life are not here to offer a full explanation. 

Earlier this week, Kate Spade, another public figure, chose the same method to kill herself as did Bourdain (hanging).  What a grizzly way to go.  

Here is a link to an article that discusses the subject and its increase:

http://www.mlive.com/news/us-world/index.ssf/2018/06/cdc_study.html

"In its report, the U.S. government agency reports that in reported suicides that 54 percent of people who died by suicide did not have a known or reported mental health illness." - from the cited article - 

It is shocking to learn that suicide is now the fourth leading cause of death in America -

1. Heart attack - 2. Cancer - 3.  Medical errors - 4. Suicide 

Not a pretty picture  - 

[AdamSmith]

6 hours ago, Suckrates said:

 

I am not minimizing his decision or even judging it,  just saying the reasons doesnt really matter in the end.  He made the choice he felt was right for him,  but with help and support, he might have come to realize a different end.

For the past 3 months, I have been in a wheelchair.  First diagnosed with a severe sciatic inflammation, i was soon to discover I had a ruptured back disk. It has pretty much taken away my mobility, and the pain is relentless and constant.  Normally aggressive narcotic injection or surgery  would resolve the problem, but because I had heart surgery in Feb, its a mandatory 6 months wait before ANY medical procedure of that nature can be done for risk of heart complication.   So here I am, and on a daily basis I pray for some relief, but get none.  So I can fully understand a person feeling hopeless and confused.  For a person that has always been 1000% independent,  my current situation, basically not being able to move is very depressing and relegated me to a "dependent" state that I am NOT comfortable with. 

Hang in.

Have seen 3 therapy routes (from helping my 89yo mama negotiate severe spinal stenosis et al.) that do give great relief. Your pain clinic should be able to direct you to each:

- Acupuncture & related holistic methods. From a credentialed East/West doctor; NOT the quacks in the shopping mall obviously.

- Biofeedback.

- Self-hypnosis.

All are tested medical methods that work, far better than opioids.

[Suckrates]

2 hours ago, AdamSmith said:

Hang in.

Have seen 3 therapy routes (from helping my 89yo mama negotiate severe spinal stenosis et al.) that do give great relief. Your pain clinic should be able to direct you to each:

- Acupuncture & related holistic methods. From a credentialed East/West doctor; NOT the quacks in the shopping mall obviously.

- Biofeedback.

- Self-hypnosis.

All are tested medical methods that work, far better than opioids.

Thank you Adam,  my doc hooked me up with pain management specialists early on, and they tried a few diff things, with NO positive results.  It's very frustrating.  He seems to feel epidural injection might work, but cant give them until the 6 month point.   And being in this damn chair now,  Its not easy to pick myself up and just get to another doctor.  My choices are limited and dependent on others helping me get around now. 

[RockHardNYC]

11 hours ago, Latbear4blk said:

we'll possibly never know.

Even though he said he hadn't talked to Bourdain in awhile, Michael Ruhlman, the Cleveland author/cook who traveled with Bourdain as a Bourdain-buddy on several episodes, was asked last night by Anderson Cooper if he had any clue what had happened. Ruhlman said without hesitation that he had no idea, and went on to speculate that Eric Ripert might know.

It was an interesting exchange in the sense that Ripert may have replaced Ruhlman as the on-air Bourdain-buddy. In the past few years, Bourdain had favored featuring Ripert on his show.

I like to study and analyze chemistry. Even though I recorded his show, I didn't watch many of Bourdain's episodes. I grew tired of the formula, the drinking, the bad-boy angle, and certain destinations don't interest me. However, I saw all the episodes featuring Ruhlman and Ripert for personal reasons.

Ruhlman is tall and handsome and looked like he could be an interesting counterpart to Bourdain, but their on-screen friendship seemed awkward, forced, and at times utterly boring. Their on-air relationship has been described as "frenemies." I found the match very unexciting.

Ripert, being French, refined, and soft-spoken, created an alchemy with Bourdain that was unique and fascinating to watch. Almost like opposites attract, extra-virgin olive oil with apple cider vinegar. It didn't hurt that Eric Ripert is one of the world's most famous chefs. I suspect their chemistry went over well with fans and everyone associated with the show.

It's a lot of fun to do serious work with a good friend. I remember many jobs where I pulled together a team, featuring some of my favorite talent from my inner circle. Bourdain got lucky with Ripert. Creating chemistry on camera is not an easy thing to do, but when it happens, oh my. What fun!

[Latbear4blk]

I am (was?) specially fond of him since my first years living in the USA, because of non American centered vision of culture, society, and politics. It is not a quality shared by many Americans.

[Latbear4blk]

I think what I like the least in Boytoy is our inability to edit our posts. 

[RockHardNYC]

1 hour ago, Latbear4blk said:

I think what I like the least in Boytoy is our inability to edit our posts. 

This is off-topic, but I agree. I have asked Oz privately to consider extending the edit time. I would be pleased with 24 hours, but I prefer longer. Perhaps if more members wrote him with the same request, he would re-think his thoughts on this. IMO, the topic deserves its own thread.

Unfortunately, extending the edit time won't stop certain posters from accusing you of lying and changing your opinion to save some face. There's only one cure for that, and it's called moderation. Members who care about their writing skills and respect the written word truly love a generous edit feature.

[Suckrates]

 

The only cure for being accused of Lyng is DONT LIE !    

[Latbear4blk]

1 hour ago, RockHardNYC said:

This is off-topic, but I agree. I have asked Oz privately to consider extending the edit time. I would be pleased with 24 hours, but I prefer longer. Perhaps if more members wrote him with the same request, he would re-think his thoughts on this. IMO, the topic deserves its own thread.

Unfortunately, extending the edit time won't stop certain posters from accusing you of lying and changing your opinion to save some face. There's only one cure for that, and it's called moderation. Members who care about their writing skills and respect the written word truly love a generous edit feature.

I have already done that but unsuccessful. I am too lazy to proof ready carefully. 

Back to topic. I followed Bourdain yeas ago, when he was in the food channel. Then I abandoned cable and his show. When I returned to cable last year I did not return to him and I am sorry. My way of honoring his life is watching Parts Unknown. I just watched the first episode of the last season, about West Virginia. It is so good, he can connect and show how alike the human experience is, even in places that seem antipodal. I am right now watching the episode about Uruguay, which is almost home to me. It is such a pleasure to listen to a foreigner non self centered vision of my own culture. 

[RA1]

15 hours ago, AdamSmith said:

I don't know.

I had a cousin so deep-sunk into depression from life-collapse causes, and then on into later-life brain-chemical-dysfunction stuff, that a bottle of 40 pills at age 62 seemed to him the only way out.

I cannot condemn his decision.

[I myself could never ever do that. As said many times here before, I plan to live forever.

Irritating the bastards all the way!

But I cannot disrespect the intensely private decisions of others to take a different way.]

Specifically which bastards are those?

Best regards,

RA1

[AdamSmith]

8 hours ago, RA1 said:

Specifically which bastards are those?

Best regards,

RA1

All of them!

[RockHardNYC]

"I like a fluffy hotel towel. I like a bidet. I like warm jets of water squirting up my ass. I mean, who doesn't?"

Anthony Bourdain
Parts Unknown, S.6, E.2

Anthony Bourdain said things on television that could never be said by anyone else. When he was on, nobody could top him. The B-movie porn soundtrack playing in the background of the cheese course at Le Petit Nice Passedat is sheer brilliance. A fine example of Bourdain's genius.

CNN repeated Bourdain's Marseille episode last night, and I happened to catch it by chance. What fond memories for me. I know the south of France well. Early in my career, I worked at Monaco's Grand Prix. It was a six week gig, and boy did I explore and love it. I rented a Vespa and drove the Grand Corniche. I parasailed for the first time over Nice. It amazes me to think how fearless I was when I was young. In many ways, I can relate to Anthony Bourdain. Although I've never tried heroin or LSD. No interest.

Marseille is a fascinating city that most French people abhor. Which is probably why I appreciate it. It's beautiful and gritty, sort of like Naples, Italy, except with more Africans and Arabs. I've been to Le Petit Nice Passedat, not to stay (even though the hotel is Relais & Châteaux, I do not like the decor) but to eat. I love fish, and Gérald Passedat is a master chef of great passion.

I know I'm not alone when I say I'm going to miss Anthony Bourdain.

[Latbear4blk]

I watched Buenos Aires (my mother-home) episode last night and I loved it. 

During the episode it is highlighted Buenos Aires' (they misguidedly say Argentina's) fondness for psychotherapy, and a role playing situation is chopped throughout the chapter where Anthony and a local woman play the analyzed/analyst roles. 

I cannot know how much of the role play script is coming from Anthony's pen, but it could be a clue on guessing some of what may have been going on in his mind.

I feel very much identified with this. Anthony, in his character from the divan, shares how sometimes something completely minuscule and insignificant like a bad burger in an airport triggers days of depression, and how similarly but oppositely, a few seconds of happiness give meaning to his life for weeks. 

[RockHardNYC]

21 minutes ago, Latbear4blk said:

a bad burger in an airport triggers days of depression

I can't imagine this. There is so much negativity in travel, especially on the travel days. A career on the road can truly wear a person down, but if I had to pick one thing to cause depression, it wouldn't be bad food in an airport. Just looking at the slobs of this world and the way people present themselves in public is enough to make any sane person sick.

I've traveled professionally all my life. I was on-the-road with a pop star for six years early on. There are aspects to love - I still love discovering new places - but there are plenty of aspects to hate. Every time I come home from a trip, no matter how much fun I had, I walk into my fabulous New York apartment and I say out loud, "It sure is nice to be home."