Need help for Seriously Injured at BM 07'

Dj Smashee · Post by **Dj Smashee** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 10:49 pm

My wife (Christine Olney) and I (Sebastian Simpson) just married on August 12th, 2007, after knowing each other and becoming best of friends over the last 10 years. We decided to go to Burning Man for are honeymoon. We both are long time BM vets, since 1998 and have always contributed to are community as performers, givers and involvment in variouse projects like Death Guild, Thunder Dome, El Circo and Purgatory Cruiser. We're both strong believers and consitantly practice taking care of others. Well, now Christine and I are asking for your help.

On the morning of Sunday Sept. 2nd 2007, the sun was just about to peak over the eastern mountain and everything was so beautifull. We pulled up to a burn can with a few friends and proceeded to stoke the fire. After about 15 - 20 minutes there was an explosion from the burn can that sent ambers, chunks of wood and other debri flying in all directions. Christine and a couple of friends were standing 10 feet from the can and I was behind her another 10 feet walking towards them. Right after the explosion I see my new wife fall to the ground and another friend double over. I run to Christine and find that debri had smacked her in the eye. My friend who had doubled over was hit in the gut by a Nitrous Oxide Cartridge that had split in half. Some idiot left a full canister in the burn can for unsuspecting victims. Ended up Christine was air lifted to Reno for a wopping sum of $26,890.00. We have no Insurance and the bills are climbing so so high. To this day Christine is still blind in her eye and we have been trying to make it with just my income. But now we are in jeopardy of eviction. I recieved a little help with food and utilities, but are roof is about to be gone. We are keeping one of are car loans current but can't afford the other, and on and on and on. This individuals act has devastated us and we are in this whirl wind with no light at the end.

Please if you can help with anything, resources, money, anything!! contact me at
[email protected]
(530)575-1488
or
(415)225-4459

Desperately in Need,
Christine Olney & Sebastian Simspon

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:45 am

Can someone verify the validity of this? I would love to help in any way I can but the undying skeptic in me needs some kind of verification.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:45 am

I had some financial changes due to a disability. I noticed you mentioned that you still have car notes, this is the first thing that I had to change to make ends meet. You may want to try to get out from under the note and use used vehicles. I used to get some decent deals from auto auctions from various state treasury departments. Try to avoid the cops cars if you're not handy mechanically. Another thing is to budget, use a spreadsheet if it helps. Not having any type of medical insurnace or disability insurance puts you in worse shape than me. So you will have to make many more sacrifices to your lifestyle. Supermarket shopping is a big expense for some folks. As for as the airlift and other medical bills.. just let them go to collection. Same goes for other unsecured debt. You have to approach your debt realistically and don't cut your nose off to spite your face by trying to keep things you shouldn't. Ignore debt collectors, disconnect the cable tv, get rid off cell phones you don't need, don't go out to eat anymore, etc etc. You should be able to scrape the rent money after some changes to lifestyle and whatnot.

Now on to income.. I am not sure of the details but your post led me to believe she has vision in one eye. There are plenty of jobs someone can handle with only one eye. But aside form income try looking into whether or not your state has a disability program. If there is no disability program than you will likely have to have a fire sale and get rid of shit. I had to get rid of lots of crap to bring money in. I am still unloading shit to get money for medical co-pays and whatnot.

I wish I could help you all financially but I can't since I'm in a similar situation. My job had cut me loose shortly after BM since I have been unable to return to full duty after 2 6 month disability leaves of absence. Good luck and remember.. BUDGET! This is the most importnat thing for us. Prioritize.. RENT gets paid first. If you have to get food from dumpsters than so be it but you'll still have a roof over your head.

Dj Smashee · Post by **Dj Smashee** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 4:01 pm

The only verification I can give right now is copies of are bills. You can view them here -

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandin ... share&Ux=0

and you can look us up on myspace

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu ... d=32052173

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu ... d=78994464

Let me get a little more indepth of are situation...

Christine is a profesional peircer and owns her own shop in San Rafael called The Blue Lotus (formaly known as Area 51). She is able to see objects and movement in her bad eye, but she also suffers migrains from optical and mental stress and strain. Some days are better and others are worse. When a migrain hits it can take several days to recover. She's seen a doctor to get medication but it costs $299 for 9 pills, no way can we afford that.
She has 2 private contract peircers in her shop who have been working extra shifts, but Christine can't work much at all. The shop is barely staying afloat, let alone bringing any money home.
I am a electrician and have been working for a contracter in San Rafael. His bussiness has hit a holliday slump and I've worked a total of 25 hours in the last 3 weeks. When I was putting in full weeks we were barely making it, but we were making it. Now we are crunched. I've gained a little bit of lieniancy from are landlord, but soon we will be 2 months behind. I need work in the bay area, perferably marin, but I'll take whatever I can. I'm not going to let go of my truck, that's are bread and butter. I need it to accomplish my work. I'm not one to ask for help, I can ussually figure something out. But I'm at my whits end and would greatly appreciate any help. We need immediate financial help.

Post by **mdmf007** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 4:16 pm

I feel for your istuation, and hope that the cartridge in the burn platform was an accident and not some asshats notion of fun. Nothing would make me happier than seeing someone prosecuted for a move like that.

I do not agre with the advice above to ignore creditors. Now is the best time to communicate with them, see what they can do to work with you. It makes climbing out of a hole that much harder if you tank your credit as well.

Debt consolidation firms can reduce the debt significantly and creditors are willing to take something over nothing.

good luck and keep your chin up. Electricians are in demand, you will find work.

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 4:25 pm

pm sent.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 5:09 pm

Any chance of selling the shop. I know that's an ugly option, but it might be worth thinking about.

Any regular eplayans who can vouch for you?

Do you have a paypay account? that might be the easiest for some people. Drawback is if you get the free one, you can only withdraw $500 every 30 days.

Dj Smashee · Post by **Dj Smashee** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 5:27 pm

I agree about the creditors. We have been intouch and cannot afford to trash are credit. Nor will I eat from trash cans. I am mearly trying to stay afloat while we go through this. We are in the middle of planning a benefit show in SF, and maybe that will cover alot of the costs. We are also pursuing Medical and SSI. She's not eligable for SDI because she is a private contractor and hasn't been paying in to the system.

Thanks for every bit of help!

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 5:38 pm

The airvac due to shrapnel from a burn barrel is indeed true. Unfortunate as it is.

There's also mumurs that it was an asshat trying to be funny with the whipit cartridge-in-the-fire trick.

That just sucks balls.

Dj Smashee · Post by **Dj Smashee** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 5:42 pm

I don't think I know any regular Eplaya-ers. I do have paypal account - [email protected]

searock420 · Post by **searock420** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:32 pm

Dj Smashee wrote:My wife (Christine Olney) and I (Sebastian Simpson) just married on August 12th, 2007, after knowing each other and becoming best of friends over the last 10 years. We decided to go to Burning Man for are honeymoon. We both are long time BM vets, since 1998 and have always contributed to are community as performers, givers and involvment in variouse projects like Death Guild, Thunder Dome, El Circo and Purgatory Cruiser. We're both strong believers and consitantly practice taking care of others. Well, now Christine and I are asking for your help.

On the morning of Sunday Sept. 2nd 2007, the sun was just about to peak over the eastern mountain and everything was so beautifull. We pulled up to a burn can with a few friends and proceeded to stoke the fire. After about 15 - 20 minutes there was an explosion from the burn can that sent ambers, chunks of wood and other debri flying in all directions. Christine and a couple of friends were standing 10 feet from the can and I was behind her another 10 feet walking towards them. Right after the explosion I see my new wife fall to the ground and another friend double over. I run to Christine and find that debri had smacked her in the eye. My friend who had doubled over was hit in the gut by a Nitrous Oxide Cartridge that had split in half. Some idiot left a full canister in the burn can for unsuspecting victims. Ended up Christine was air lifted to Reno for a wopping sum of $26,890.00. We have no Insurance and the bills are climbing so so high. To this day Christine is still blind in her eye and we have been trying to make it with just my income. But now we are in jeopardy of eviction. I recieved a little help with food and utilities, but are roof is about to be gone. We are keeping one of are car loans current but can't afford the other, and on and on and on. This individuals act has devastated us and we are in this whirl wind with no light at the end.

Please if you can help with anything, resources, money, anything!! contact me at
[email protected]
(530)575-1488
or
(415)225-4459

Desperately in Need,
Christine Olney & Sebastian Simspon

Seems this happens every year.
Read the back of the ticket.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:44 pm

Oh fuck the back of the ticket! I don't look towards lawyer-generated prose for wisdom. That's one nasty accident, caused by some sort of idiot or fucktard and it could have been any of us. It's too bad they didn't have any travel or disability insurance. And I cannot imagine the horror of losing the use of an eye. That she's an artist is even worse for that. That's not the first cannister thrown in a fire, and sadly it won't be the last.

Of course the community has been very generous with me, but maybe that's okay cause Scott didn't die and I wasn't injured onplaya.

Poof, Poof, Poof!

Teo del Fuego · Post by **Teo del Fuego** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:56 am

searock420 wrote:Read the back of the ticket.

pretty callous, doncha think?

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:41 am

I think the whole "read your fucking ticket" routine is getting really old and *so* lame. And yes, I'm guilty of having done it in the past.

I think what it's become more and more is a blanket of impunity to justify irresponsible behavior on the part of idiots who don't seem to consider their actions.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 1:06 pm

'Xactly, Badger. I'm thinking of a "Biblical Characters at Burning Man" thing. David mistakes the man for Goliath and puts out one of hte neon tubes. Methuselah complains how much better things were in the 1600s. Jezebel runs a Goddess Camp. And there's Pontius Pilate, telling everyone to read the back of his ticket.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:25 pm

Found a couple places online, hopefully you won't find yourself in need of them.

www.hbofm.org

http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/smc/depart ... 81,00.html

Also have you considered refinancing your vehicle. It will cost you in the long run but you may be able to drop your payments by a bunch by adding another year to the note. Soup kitchens can be good for a meal and there are programs to help get ya groceries for those that can't stomach dumpster diving. As far as immediate income goes there is always panhandling. While many may consider this tacky it can yield a nice amount of dough if you work the right spot. I know someone that managed to pull in 500 a week and within a couple months they were back on track. There are employment websites about but you won't see a check for 2-4 weeks depending on the employer.

www.careerbuilder.com

www.monster.com

Oldguy · Post by **Oldguy** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:20 pm

There are many I suspect who are sympathetic with your situation but who themselves can only give you best wishes and prayers since they are themseves in dire straights... I signed up with a local gleaners group after I was released from prison 7 years ago. Two bags of groceries goes a long way.( one bag from feds and one from the county) Several churches have foodbank programs you might use. Some pastors can help financially or otherwise. Just ask. My family pays my utilities. Life changes are hard and we all must face tradegy, illness, loss and death. I am positive you will find a way, but not exactly how you might think. You are both alive, take joy in that. It might seem overwhelming at the moment but this too shall pass. I don't mean to sound like an old fart just spouting platitudes. ok just one: If you keep doing things the same way, nothing will change. soooo.... try something new.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:00 pm

Death Guild?

Do you know Lothos? He's been a medic there for years. I'll take his word, no problem. Have him post or call me--he has my number.

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 8:30 am

i havent had health insurance for many years....it does suck ass...

i am sorry that you got caught in the crosshairs of stupidity.

i myself am not in a position to help you financially, but i am forwarding your plea to those that can.

good luck, and it's funny how things work out in the strangest ways and from unlikely sources.

i hope you get back on track, and as far as the bill goes, i screwed the Banks and Hospitals and Credit Card Companies for over $350,000, and you know what? There is no debtors prison anymore....having a good credit report is not crucial to your well being, and i actually dont give a rats ass about their balance sheets and neither should you...

fuck the system, they've been fucking you all along...

Post by **mdmf007** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:02 am

True Simon you can fool people once, but what about twice? - I can guarantee you that there is no way your going to get a consumer loan, car loan, home loan, and with a credit score of 400 anytime soon. your not getting a lot of jobs either. Many, many places pull credit reports to vette character.

With 350k of debt you just walked from i am sure there are creditors looking at civil suits. Now you end up with liens, and judgements. Unless you declared bankruptcy.

Sounds like Christine and Sebastian have some character and are trying to do what they can - before they get to that point.

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 12:19 pm

I don't mean to sound like an old fart just spouting platitudes.

I found your post pretty darned pleasant. All the more so because it seems informed by personal experience.

MrMullen · Post by **MrMullen** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 8:58 am

Not ask a dumb question but do you know who put the canister in the burn barrel? If you do, you might consider a civil court action against them.

Yes, the back of your ticket says death and injury and all that, but if some person this this with the intent of injuring someone, you might want to drag them into a civil court to recover damages.

Kinetik V · Post by **Kinetik V** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 9:18 am

MrMullen wrote:Not ask a dumb question but do you know who put the canister in the burn barrel? If you do, you might consider a civil court action against them.

Yes, the back of your ticket says death and injury and all that, but if some person this this with the intent of injuring someone, you might want to drag them into a civil court to recover damages.

Great, this could turn into "Kathy Lampman II". Hopefully not.

Box Burner · Post by **Box Burner** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 5:53 pm

Kinetic V wrote:
MrMullen wrote:Not ask a dumb question but do you know who put the canister in the burn barrel? If you do, you might consider a civil court action against them.

Yes, the back of your ticket says death and injury and all that, but if some person did this with the intent of injuring someone, you might want to drag them into a civil court to recover damages.
Great, this could turn into "Kathy Lampman II". Hopefully not.

this is not an accident. It was not the result of something the bmorg said we should do. Nor is it an accident as the result of poor planning or execution of some-ones art project. These things are what the back of the ticket are for. This was a deliberate act. You can be sure that the can had a danger warning about burning it. I hope that it was an accident of stupidity (not reading the label). But I find it hard to believe that anyone is unaware that those cans will explode. Deliberate acts of violence are the sole resposibility of the people who do them. They are not covered by the ticket. You can get arrested and jailed for smoking dope on the playa, why not for planting a bomb?

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 6:25 pm

why not for planting a bomb?

Please.

The act itself was reckless stupidity and one probably alcohol fueled by someone who obviously wasn't considering possible consequences. I imagine no forethought was given (or considered) and that's really too bad because the consequences of those actions are here for all to read. However, to suggest that the act was one intentionally designed to inflict physical damage against a person without anything more than the info posted here is silly.

Post by **mdmf007** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 7:21 pm

Absolving liability through a disclaimer on a ticket is weak at best. Many times it has been challenged in court and the plaintiff wins.

Any lawyer can tell you that a disclaimer like that is worth the paper its printed on and not much more.

malice in this instance would be hard to prove - evben if they did know who did it. Some asshat is doing whippers on playa and I hope he merely threw his trash in the barrel without knowing one was still charged.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 9:03 pm

At any rate, there's no way of tracking down said asshat.

MrMullen · Post by **MrMullen** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 11:07 pm

Badger wrote:
Please.

The act itself was reckless stupidity and one probably alcohol fueled by someone who obviously wasn't considering possible consequences. I imagine no forethought was given (or considered) and that's really too bad because the consequences of those actions are here for all to read. However, to suggest that the act was one intentionally designed to inflict physical damage against a person without anything more than the info posted here is silly.

Yet we throw the drunk drivers in jail.

gypsymonkey · Post by **gypsymonkey** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 1:14 pm

Hay, as a fellow electrician also between financial comfort zones, i can feel your pain. Here's a quick run down of my scene followed by a few suggestions that might help.
I've been an electrician for the past 25 years and a single father for 19 of them. I started in California but moved to Oregon 13 years ago. I (finally) got my journeyman card 10 years ago and worked for the same co. until I got "laid off" by a hipacristian last march. My unemployment insurance ran out the week before B Man and I've been living off of my savings since while trying to get disability from SS (I need a to get my left shoulder and right hip replaced).
I have always worked non union but decided to check them out a few years ago. At the time they were building a co gen power plant in K falls so I signed up and it was a lot easier than I thought. I was bringing home a little over $ 1100 a week but when that slowed down I decided to go work in the Bay area for the summer as my kids were at there moms for the summer. I ended up working for the San Jose local for $42 hr plus $ 7 an hr towards my pension AND they payed double time on the weekends!! Unfortunately the union isn't very strong in Or. and my daughter was just 16 at the time so after summer was over I went crawling back to my old non union job. sooo, my advice to you is to check 'em out. I don't know how long you've been a sparky ( we hate that term) but you might be able to organize right away or get into there apprentices program either way it might change your life. Also look into local food banks. I, like Toolmaker (props to you Toolmaker) was an avid dumpster diver back in the days before I moved up here. Work all day, then drive a few hrs in the hellie So. Cal traffic and stop at a few prime dumpsters on the way home. Hay, a burners gotta eat and feed the kids. It sucked but you gotta do what you gotta do. However nowadays there are food banks (up here anyways) that will kick you down every few weeks or so, check it out. And last all I can say is that it's easier to stay out of debt then to GET out of debt! So even if you pay $10 a mo on your bills sometimes it can keep them from being turned over to a collection agency.
Well I hope I don't sound like someones dad giving advice its just the whole single father thing is so ingrained that I cant help it any more.
Just remember that this to shall pass so hang in there and good luck.
Peace
Monk

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 5:48 pm

Did anyone yell "fire in the hole" before the explosion ?

Need help for Seriously Injured at BM 07'

Need help for Seriously Injured at BM 07'

Re: Need help for Seriously Injured at BM 07'

Re: Need help for Seriously Injured at BM 07'