Near the end of last month, David Freeman, 47, the co-author of a book called “100 Things to Do Before You Die,” died.

Now that’s salesmanship.

We admit, his death itself was tragic: He fell and hit his head at his home in Venice, Calif.

Still, as he had gotten only halfway through his own list, a rich patina of irony glistens across the story.

Freeman’s 1999, co-authored by Neil Teplica, offered some obvious examples of international events to sample – Oktoberfest in Germany, Royal Ascot Races in England, Yom Kippur at the Western Wall in Israel, New Year’s Eve in Times Square – along with some off variants – Burning Man in Nevada, World Cow Chip Throwing Contest in Oklahoma, Australia’s Nude Night Surfing.

Since Freeman wrote his book in 1999, “100 Things to Do Before I Die” lists have sprung up everywhere, from everyday individuals seeking to add adventure to their lives.

This was the topic of conversation recently in the Herald Bulletin newsroom, between me and a seedy, unkempt, desperate thug whom we shall refer to as “Mr. A.” Although his real name is Richard Sitler.

“What’s the deal with these lists?” Mr. A asked plaintively. “They’re everywhere.”

“Yeah, I know,” I muttered. “I said that two paragraphs ago.”

“Oh,” he hesitated. “But still, it’s kind of annoying.”

“True. But so what?”

“Somebody ought to write about it, that’s all.”

I can take a hint.

My feeling, however, is that traveling to all these exotic locations is fine and dandy, but it won’t necessarily change you or your dissatisfaction with your life. That kind of thing comes from within.

A deal’s a deal, though, and so we present: