http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/death/ Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/wake-up-and-find-some-end-of-life-style/ Dusty plastic flowers. Droning dirges. A cut-and-paste eulogy that uses the phrase ‘member of the community’. Instant coffee. Squeezed into twee rooms with bad carpet where there’s no room to talk properly and hushed tones are preferred over cataclysmic crying. I’ll have a cookie cutter funeral over my dead body. It’s so crushingly depressing that the most marvellous people can still have the grimmest send off. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/wake-up-and-find-some-end-of-life-style/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/wake-up-and-find-some-end-of-life-style/#item8330 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Michael “Flathead” Blanchard’s obituary in last week’s Denver Post was less than flattering. “Weary of reading obituaries noting someone’s courageous battle with death, Mike wanted it known that he died as a result of being stubborn, refusing to follow doctor’s orders and raising hell for more than six decades,” it read. “He enjoyed booze, guns, cars and younger women until the day he died.” Flathead’s memorial service, held on April 14, had a “no children under 18” policy due to the amount of “adult material” contained in the service. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Theres-no-need-to-lie-when-we-lay-loved-ones-to-rest/ Michael “Flathead” Blanchard’s obituary in last week’s Denver Post was less than flattering. “Weary of reading obituaries noting someone’s courageous battle with death, Mike wanted it known that he died as a result of being stubborn, refusing to follow doctor’s orders and raising hell for more than six decades,” it read. “He enjoyed booze, guns, cars and younger women until the day he died.” Flathead’s memorial service, held on April 14, had a “no children under 18” policy due to the amount of “adult material” contained in the service. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Theres-no-need-to-lie-when-we-lay-loved-ones-to-rest/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Theres-no-need-to-lie-when-we-lay-loved-ones-to-rest/#item8270 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Michael “Flathead” Blanchard’s obituary in last week’s Denver Post was less than flattering. “Weary of reading obituaries noting someone’s courageous battle with death, Mike wanted it known that he died as a result of being stubborn, refusing to follow doctor’s orders and raising hell for more than six decades,” it read. “He enjoyed booze, guns, cars and younger women until the day he died.” Flathead’s memorial service, held on April 14, had a “no children under 18” policy due to the amount of “adult material” contained in the service. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/take-control-of-your-own-death-before-its-too-late/ It’s the Saturday morning of the Queensland election and I’ve just boarded a Virgin flight to Sydney. As embarking passengers jostle to stow their luggage, I wonder who my travelling companions will be: young or old, tourists or business travellers, chatty or silent? I rather enjoy the ‘lucky dip’ of travelling on planes. A well-dressed, middle-aged couple approach and indicate that ‘this’ is their row. After take-off, we exchange some mild pleasantries, but spend rest of the flight in amicable silence. As Sydney Harbor comes into view, the woman leans across her dozing husband and asks, “What are you doing in Sydney, today?” “I’m giving a speech for Dying with Dignity,” I reply, with some trepidation. “Euthanasia?” she says, eyes widening. “Are you for or against?” penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/take-control-of-your-own-death-before-its-too-late/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/take-control-of-your-own-death-before-its-too-late/#item8173 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Michael “Flathead” Blanchard’s obituary in last week’s Denver Post was less than flattering. “Weary of reading obituaries noting someone’s courageous battle with death, Mike wanted it known that he died as a result of being stubborn, refusing to follow doctor’s orders and raising hell for more than six decades,” it read. “He enjoyed booze, guns, cars and younger women until the day he died.” Flathead’s memorial service, held on April 14, had a “no children under 18” policy due to the amount of “adult material” contained in the service. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/parents-who-wish-their-child-had-never-been-born/ How would you feel if you found out that your mere existence is such a burden on your parents they want $10 million compensation? It’s not clear whether 11-year-old Keeden, who has severe brain damage after a rare genetic condition caused a massive stroke, will ever understand what his parents are doing. Debbie and Lawrence Waller are suing their IVF specialist for “wrongful birth”, claiming he breached his duty of care by failing to take proper care that Lawrence’s genetic blood clotting condition would not be passed on. They say they love Keeden, but wouldn’t have gone ahead with the birth if they’d known because of his suffering. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/parents-who-wish-their-child-had-never-been-born/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/parents-who-wish-their-child-had-never-been-born/#item7654 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Michael “Flathead” Blanchard’s obituary in last week’s Denver Post was less than flattering. “Weary of reading obituaries noting someone’s courageous battle with death, Mike wanted it known that he died as a result of being stubborn, refusing to follow doctor’s orders and raising hell for more than six decades,” it read. “He enjoyed booze, guns, cars and younger women until the day he died.” Flathead’s memorial service, held on April 14, had a “no children under 18” policy due to the amount of “adult material” contained in the service. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/punch-on-open-thread-17-01-12/ Facebook is replete with all things grim and morbid. Attention-seeking status updates, almost as much woe-is-me as look-at-me. Now the social media site is hosting an app that will let you send a message after you die. ‘If I Die” lets you appoint trustees to release your final message in the unfortunate event of your demise. Would you use it? What would you say? Share your thoughts and anything else on your mind below. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/punch-on-open-thread-17-01-12/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/punch-on-open-thread-17-01-12/#item7540 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Michael “Flathead” Blanchard’s obituary in last week’s Denver Post was less than flattering. “Weary of reading obituaries noting someone’s courageous battle with death, Mike wanted it known that he died as a result of being stubborn, refusing to follow doctor’s orders and raising hell for more than six decades,” it read. “He enjoyed booze, guns, cars and younger women until the day he died.” Flathead’s memorial service, held on April 14, had a “no children under 18” policy due to the amount of “adult material” contained in the service. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Digging-up-fallen-diggers-is-the-ultimate-indignity/ As we approach the Centenary of World War I, we start to think about the tremendous sacrifice so many of our diggers made. It is unimaginable to think that over 60,000 young men died in Gallipoli and the Western Front. When you visit the battlefields of France and Belgium and the cemeteries and memorials you see countless numbers of white crosses honoring the fallen. Many of those crosses are for soldiers who are “Known Only to God”. At the various memorials such as VC Corner and Menin Gate the names of those who were missing in action are engraved in stone. The Australian Government’s official estimation is there are approximately 18,000 Diggers lying under the fields of France and Belgium. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Digging-up-fallen-diggers-is-the-ultimate-indignity/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Digging-up-fallen-diggers-is-the-ultimate-indignity/#item7224 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Michael “Flathead” Blanchard’s obituary in last week’s Denver Post was less than flattering. “Weary of reading obituaries noting someone’s courageous battle with death, Mike wanted it known that he died as a result of being stubborn, refusing to follow doctor’s orders and raising hell for more than six decades,” it read. “He enjoyed booze, guns, cars and younger women until the day he died.” Flathead’s memorial service, held on April 14, had a “no children under 18” policy due to the amount of “adult material” contained in the service. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/First-on-my-bucket-list-um-buy-a-bucket/ Inspired by that 80-year-old Californian guy who recently completed 80 skydives in less than seven hours, I’ve spent the past couple of weeks thinking about creating a bucket list. These days, people do not accidentally live awesome lives. They work for it. Fiery impulsiveness and terrifying recklessness must be meticulously planned. A bucket list is a scientifically-proven and Morgan Freeman-endorsed way to achieve said awesomeness. Without an action-filled plan of action, a person risks losing focus and aimlessly drifting to the point where they find themselves in a tacky, neon-lit club making out with a 53-year-old Kardashian sister while her publicist gently weeps beside a broken tray of tequila shots. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/First-on-my-bucket-list-um-buy-a-bucket/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/First-on-my-bucket-list-um-buy-a-bucket/#item7280 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Michael “Flathead” Blanchard’s obituary in last week’s Denver Post was less than flattering. “Weary of reading obituaries noting someone’s courageous battle with death, Mike wanted it known that he died as a result of being stubborn, refusing to follow doctor’s orders and raising hell for more than six decades,” it read. “He enjoyed booze, guns, cars and younger women until the day he died.” Flathead’s memorial service, held on April 14, had a “no children under 18” policy due to the amount of “adult material” contained in the service. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/festival-of-obvious-ideas-2-compulsory-organ-donation/ If people didn’t donate their tissue and organs to others, the following people wouldn’t have contributed nearly as much to the Australia we know: Kevin Rudd, Derryn Hinch, Kerry Packer, Jimmy Little, Fiona Coote… We’d be a lot poorer for it. But Australia is already a poorer country than it could be. There are plenty of sick people who need organ transplants but can’t get them. Australia has one of the lowest rates of organ donation in the developed world. There are some 1,566 Australians on the waiting list for a transplant right now and every week an Aussie dies waiting for a kidney transplant. The way to ease this crippling shortage is breathtakingly obvious. When you die, your organs should automatically go to someone who needs them. End of story. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/festival-of-obvious-ideas-2-compulsory-organ-donation/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/festival-of-obvious-ideas-2-compulsory-organ-donation/#item6931 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Michael “Flathead” Blanchard’s obituary in last week’s Denver Post was less than flattering. “Weary of reading obituaries noting someone’s courageous battle with death, Mike wanted it known that he died as a result of being stubborn, refusing to follow doctor’s orders and raising hell for more than six decades,” it read. “He enjoyed booze, guns, cars and younger women until the day he died.” Flathead’s memorial service, held on April 14, had a “no children under 18” policy due to the amount of “adult material” contained in the service. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/euthanasia-when-dr-death-comes-knocking/ Some people effectively work as plants; double agents within a lobby group, party or organisation who undermine the very thing they purport to be working for. It’s anti-astroturfing. Chameleon white-anting. Dr Philip Nitzsche is, I suspect, one of these. The ghoulish right-to-die campaigner has won Therapeutic Goods Administration approval to import Nembutal, a drug used for voluntary euthanasia, for suicide, and for executions – including in the recent case of Troy Davis. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/euthanasia-when-dr-death-comes-knocking/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/euthanasia-when-dr-death-comes-knocking/#item6791 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Michael “Flathead” Blanchard’s obituary in last week’s Denver Post was less than flattering. “Weary of reading obituaries noting someone’s courageous battle with death, Mike wanted it known that he died as a result of being stubborn, refusing to follow doctor’s orders and raising hell for more than six decades,” it read. “He enjoyed booze, guns, cars and younger women until the day he died.” Flathead’s memorial service, held on April 14, had a “no children under 18” policy due to the amount of “adult material” contained in the service. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-alp-should-seek-liberation-in-its-annihilation/ The power of the Roman Empire can be traced back to one key factor: The Romans did not fear death. This was not so much a state of mind or philosophical outlook on life. It was, simply, the law. This was a society in which making a good speech in the Senate, winning a major victory on the battlefield or even just being Emperor, were all grounds for a swift and unexpected execution. If the leading men of Rome had permitted themselves to have even the slightest fear of dying no one would have gotten anything done, since the consequence of doing pretty much anything was to be stabbed in the neck by an old friend. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-alp-should-seek-liberation-in-its-annihilation/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-alp-should-seek-liberation-in-its-annihilation/#item6641 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Michael “Flathead” Blanchard’s obituary in last week’s Denver Post was less than flattering. “Weary of reading obituaries noting someone’s courageous battle with death, Mike wanted it known that he died as a result of being stubborn, refusing to follow doctor’s orders and raising hell for more than six decades,” it read. “He enjoyed booze, guns, cars and younger women until the day he died.” Flathead’s memorial service, held on April 14, had a “no children under 18” policy due to the amount of “adult material” contained in the service.