As an avid Star Trek fan, I had to share this news.  

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200510/s1483004.htm

Heh heh, that is pretty kewl!

Bless Scotty going off into space like that. I think it is a wonderful thing to do. Now he will be part of the Cosmos.

Big Kev is dead. Did anyone know before today? I just read it on the news website, and it says he died last week! It was a heart attack, apprently. I wonder if anyone will carry on his quest for more Aussie products on our shelves?

The big guys always screw the little guy. Unfortunately, Big Kev didn't have as much money as d**k Smith. He couldn't last. Now we just have to live with Easy Off Bam.

Long live Big Kev. We are still excited, and always will be thanks to you. You were a true Australian. Good on you mate. Rest in Peace.


PS D Smith is not a dirty word. Please don't edit! That's his name. It's not Richard!

Yes, Simpson I knew the day he died but really didn't think it was that newsworthy. He treated his body badly for all those years and only in recent times had begun a healthy regimen but it was obviously too little too late I am afraid. Yes he was a BIG personality and apparently a very nice man, husband and father but he did himself no favours until it was too late.

Perhaps we can use this as a wake up call for us all to lead a healthier life SOONER rather than later. There's no excuse for obesity. We know so much about it today, there is a way for everyone to deal with it.

Surely the important thing is whether or not he lived a good life and died happy with no regrets.

Sure we all know about the dangers of obesity... and smoking and drinking too much alcohol or caffeine or running without the proper shoes or whatever the hell else we are warned about this week but in the end isn't it my choice what I do with my body?

What's this "no excuse" thing?  I know the score...if I choose what you would consider poor choices then so be it...its' my life so but out.  Please.

Sure there's a way for me to deal with it but what if I don't want to...what if I'm quite happy living my life as a fatty or a smoker or a drinker or a jogger with bad shoes or a caffeine addict or whatever else it is that is considered unhealthy?

Sorry to be Simpson I'm not really having a go at you...it just annoys me that these days it seems everyone's an expert on how other people should live...be it doctors or the media or the bloody government or the average bloke in the street...can't we just let people make their choices and live (or die) with the consequences?  

I always got the impression Big Kev was a happy kinda guy...clearly he was a great dad by what his kids said about him...maybe he had 56 fantastic years and that was enough...maybe if he'd tired to lose weight he'd have died from a heart attack on the treadmill.

mmm I am very grumpy tonight...better go and get zen

I'm really not meaning this at you personally Simpson...more at society in general..but I'm gonna go chill now

Quoted from BSquared

I always got the impression Big Kev was a happy kinda guy...clearly he was a great dad by what his kids said about him...maybe he had 56 fantastic years and that was enough...maybe if he'd tired to lose weight he'd have died from a heart attack on the treadmill.

mmm I am very grumpy tonight...better go and get zen

I'm really not meaning this at you personally Simpson...more at society in general..but I'm gonna go chill now

hehe... I know the feeling BSquared. Our grumpy moments that we women (mostly) get.
Big Kev was on a health kick from what his family said in a post death interview I saw. They were devastated that he had been getting his health on track this year and then he died. 56 is young, that is 6 years only, on me. When we reach 30 odd it gets harder for most of us to keep/get our weight on track, when we turn 40 odd... even harder, when we reach 50 it is nigh on impossible. I know because I have lived it and still am living it. Some people Eg: my 28 yr old daughter who is naturally slim, a size 8 and around 50kg and eats very well and very healthy, are born with a higher metabolism and are naturally slim, others have a sluggish metabolism and tend to put weight on just looking at food! They have to work hard all their lives to keep their weight at a reasonable level.

Thats OK BSquared. Thats why these boards exist, so ppl can express what they're feeling about different topics! Meanwhile, I'd have to agree that Big Kev was a happy guy who did live his life well. Good on him for trying to make a difference!

I never had much respect for the man, but I offer my condolances to his family, they obviously did, and it is a sad time for them.

Gee, do you think he died? Here are the current top headlines on ninemsn.com.au news website:

# PM calls Packer a generous Australian
# National holiday road toll reaches 20
# Packer, 'a giant of Australian business'
# Friends, family arrive at Packer house
# Cricket players pay tribute to Packer
# Packer had a passion for TV: Ray Martin
# Packer friend says James is capable
# Lynton Taylor praises friend Packer
# Islamic clerics face tougher regulation
# Kerry Packer dies at home

OK OK OK WE GET IT - HE'S DEAD!

And Simpson in case you missed it there's a special hour-long news on 9 tonight all devoted to the dead guy....good grief he was a dude with a S*load of money...so what?

Offering my condolances to a family I never knew for a man I did not particularly like and could not stand to look at seems to me hypocrytical, so I wont.
When Joh Bjelke Peterson died they went on and on about it even going so far a planning to erect a statue in Kingaroy to the man... the same man that held Queensland back in the dark ages for the entire reign of his Premiership. Kerry Packer was a very rich man who did a lot of good and I don't doubt some bad as well. But please don't overdose us for the next 2 weeks about the man and his life. Nine is going all out because Packer owns the Television Station and of course heaps of bootlicking and idol worship is going to occur from people concerned with Nine and Sports. Thank God we can flick to SBS, ABC, 7 or 10 to try to escape all the whoohaa.
The news below I think is more tragic and newsworthy than the death of a rich aussie bloke.

Toddler dies after being mauled by dog

December 27, 2005 - 3:44PM

A two-year-old girl has died after being mauled by a family dog at her home on the NSW South Coast.

The toddler was in the rear yard of the house in Towamba Road, Nullica, near Eden, about noon today when she was bitten on the neck by the dog police said.

Police said the dog, a dingo cross-breed, was chained up at the time.

Ambulance officers found the toddler unconscious when they arrived.

She was taken to Pambula hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Police said the dog had since been destroyed.

A spokesman said police were continuing to investigate the attack and would prepare a report for the coroner.