Some grim lists…

…for those in the United States (like me) about to suffer the shutdown blues:

First, a list of 36 last words spoken by people condemned to be executed:

http://www.ranker.com/list/last-words-spoken-by-criminals-before-execution/notable-quotables

The 1st and 12th ones are pretty bad puns…the 19th one verges on the poetic.

Next up in our grim trifecta, the last words spoken by famous people:

http://www.ranker.com/list/dying-words-last-words-spoken-by-famous-people-at-death/notable-quotables

My favorite is the eminently quotable Oscar Wilde’s last words: “Either the wallpaper goes or I do.”  Even in the face of death, he delivers a great line!

The best unexpected last words spoken has to go to #56, to Union General John Sedgewick: “They couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist…”

Finally, a list of 14 people in ancient times…and the very strange ways they died:

http://www.ranker.com/list/unusual-deaths-prehistoric-people-who-died-in-strange-ways/notable-famous-deaths

Check out in particular the way both Heraclitus and Milo of Croton went out…brrr.