Mark your calendars - on August 20th, the earthly remains of Hunter S. Thompson will be shot from a cannon onto his Colorado ranch, as per his last wishes.

Johnny Depp, Thompson's onscreen alter ego, is bankrolling the construction of a 150-foot-tall steel tower shaped like Thomson's famed "gonzo fist." According to the Aspen Daily news, a "dagger-like steel shaft," will rise 135 feet before fist which is to hold the cannon that will blast Thompson's ashes across the ranch as family and friends look on.

The ceremony, timed at the six-month anniversary of his suicide, will be private, with guests including Johnny Depp, Sean Penn and Jack Nicholson (John Cusack, you going?)

Earlier this year in March, the Aspen Daily News ran a contest seeking the perfect cannon for the event, asking for submissions of 100 words or less on "Why should your cannon be used to blast Dr. Hunter S. Thompson's cremated remains into the sky?" (The contest is over but I can't find out who won; lemme get back to you on that).

I can think of no punchline for this, which is probably exactly how Hunter S. Thompson would have wanted it.