Burke's Ravings

[Ed Burke]

I feel for your trees Tom. And I especially feel for that sense of permanency you speak of.

Bluegrass is not the place for what follows but I feel so upset I just have to write somewhere.

Just yesterday in my old home town of Melbourne, Victoria, a 15 year old kid, Tyler Cassidy, went crazy and was parading around with a large knife or two: stolen they say. The police became interested and after a couple of unsuccessful attempts to subdue him with capsicum spray, this group of brave upholders of the law shot him in the chest and killed him, as he was "threatening" them. He had threatened nobody else if the news reports can be believed; indeed he had played with one witness’s dog.

Just what sort of 'threat' could be posed by a guy with a few knives at any distance beyond three feet is unclear but I guess there will be a plausible explanation, or an attempt at one.

It was not just one officer who lost it, it was a mob killing; there were four or more of them and there were a number of shots fired.

They could have, if they had felt it was really needed, shot him in the leg, or the arm; after all they are trained in the handling of weapons, but no, they slaughtered a 15 year old kid for brandishing a knife at them.

As an Australian of 77 years I feel so put down and ashamed by this display of craven, cowardly, gang stupidity that I want to let it be known on every world forum that I can find, what has happened, and I wish the world to be watching for what form of ‘justice’ will take place in the aftermath to this tragic event.

I hang my head.

Ed

[Tom Goodrick]

That situation is not unique to your Country. It happens in the US all too often. One officer fires his weapon and several others join in. On the other hand children should be taught by parents and by teachers that if they brandish what looks like a weapon at a cop, they will probably be shot to death. That applies world-wide from what I can see and hear about.

Speaking on the other end of this problem, I was confronted once in 8th grade by a bully who was known to carry knives with long blades. He often bragged about his knives and showed them to us. So when he pushed my around in a classroom, I took him on suddenly as we left the class. I could not give him time to get his knife. I hit him every way I could and continued hitting him after he seemed to have given up. I did not stop until several teachers pulled me off. We both got suspended for two days. He never bothered me again. The tough thing was that my father was a teacher in the same school.

My point is that I felt because the kid had potentially deadly force, I had to hit him harder and longer than I would otherwise have done.

[Ed Burke]

Ha Ha, I see Alex (Robbie12) , like myself, got hit by the sqeaky voice syndrome when he arrived on this new format forum. Interesting actually as we live only a 100 km apart. Maybe it is something in the local air. In fact Smithy has been rather quiet of late; is he perhaps about to own up to a change in the way he leaves an essential item of basic seating?

Ed

[flaminghotsauce]

Ed, I don't know the details of the incident, but "a couple of unsuccessful attempts to subdue him with capsicum spray" is often a good indication that someone is out of their minds on drugs or something, and definitely a threat to others. Failure to stop when police tell ya to is quite dangerous, especially when wielding a weapon.

I'd like to give the officers the benefit of the doubt, but I agree there is a way to take someone down without lethal force. That's what the spray is supposed to do, but if they felt he was going to come after them, it is justified. They could have taken out his knee and he'd be subdue-able.

[Ed Burke]

Yes Kevin, the fact that they could have disabled him but instead went for the chest as they are trained to do against somebody carrying a firearm is the aspect that I find disturbing. It is indicative of a very dangerous mind set among the officers involved; there were actually three it seems. All the 'force' has said since the killing is "give us tasars".

There will be a coronial hearing and I feel things will get a good airing then.

Ed

[Ed Burke]

It's been a big Christmas here in Flaxton Q. Our son and his wife are home from extended European touring and have moved back into their home after spending a short time with Nicole and I while the tenant moved out.

In addition to that small crowd there was a large crowd, a family of 5 who have migrated to Oz from near Colchester UK. They stayed with us for a few days while their rental accomodation was finalised.

So we were all together last evening to make a lot of noise and sip the occasional sherbert. Good fun all 'round.

So to all you BGA types all over the globe doing similar things, or nothing at all, MERRY CHRISTMAS and may 2009 be full of pleasant surprises ------- Ed

[paulvdberg]

Thanks for your good wishes, Ed.
Stayed home in COLD Holland to celebrate Holidays with family and friends (Like it should!! )
cheers, Paul

[Ed Burke]

Thanks for the contact Paul. It is our turn to be warm and there are regular Cbs to keep us amused. I guess gaar will virtually warm your feet.

Still enjoying your great screenies.

Re the DC-2 in Albury see pp 24-28 of this council document:- www.alburycity.nsw.gov.au/resources/documents/Agenda_(EWC)_8_December_2008.pdf This link is a tenuous one, if no good try :- www.bordermail.com.au/news/local/news/general/uiver-deal/1380163.aspx

See you around, Ed

[Ed Burke]

Preparations are underway for a departure on May 16 for Alice Springs and points west driving the trusty Hilux with the camper on the tray. Nicole and I are off into the desert yet again. We join a couple of Melbourne friends in the Alice and head out to Western Australia's Great Sandy Desert, and to Jupiter Well which was dug in 1961 by a mapping party of which I was a member. I'm putting a plaque there to tell outback travellers the story. Google Earth S22*52'38".0 E126*35"55".4 will give you the well although you won't see much of it.

Then it's down to Kalgoorlie via Wiluna to see our one and only grandson. Tobias is now 7 months old and we haven't seen him since he was just 3 weeks! Should be back home by the end of June.

So with all the tasks to be completed before our departure, flying has taken a back seat.

Ed

[Allan_Lowson]

Just checked out your route on my 1:4,000,000 GeoCenter map. Now I thought my feet were sore from peddling round the GAAR.

Talking of feet, make sure to keep SWMBO seated well away from hazards at the campfire after a couple of bottles of Lindemans throat tonic this time!

Have a great trip, see you back here in June.

[Bill Von Sennet]

Ed & Nicole,

Request for leave of absence is noted and approved.

Have a safe trip.

[Ed Burke]

Thanks for the good wishes Allan and Bill, I will keep SWMBO away from sudden changes in Z co-ordinates.

Re the route, I neglected to mention that we will be returning via the "Ann Beadell" track, around 28*s to Coober Pedy, where they find wonderous opals. From there probably via Innaminka. That will test the suspension a little I fancy, cheers all, Ed

[Chris Ross]

Have a good trip Ed and Nicole I'll be thinking of you while I am stuck in the monday morning traffic in Sydney
Enjoy
Chris

[Tom Goodrick]

Have a safe one.

[Ed Burke]

We are back home after our travels to Kalgoorlie via everywhere else. Saw lots of emus, kangaroos and camels but a minimum number of people. Been home since the end of June and there have been plenty of tasks to keep me off the streets but things are settling down.

To all you gaar flyers, I saw such names as Wiluna, Jundee, Bronzewing & Leinster; There was no sign of any wreckage remaining.

No problems during the trip barring a couple of punctures. In Kalgoorlie however our trusty Hilux decided to chew out a rear wheel bearing. It was very considerate of it to do the trick there as it was simply a matter of having the professionals fit a replacement. Had it happened in one of the extremely remote areas we travelled through it would have been a bit of a nuisance.

Our grandson is growing into a fine lad. At 9 months he is not yet into FS but it should not be too long.

Ed