Hi all - just to let you know why there is no afternoon report from me on the Basi-Virk trial.
I am just back from St. Paul's emergency room - my car was T-boned by a Ford F150 pickup running a red light as I was on my way to BC Supreme Court this afternoon. I was going full speed at the time and had no warning or possible way of avoiding a dramatic collision.
I was checked out for possible heart attack due to strong chest pains but am okay, other than bloodied legs and sore chest and neck from the impact .
Thank goodness there were no pedestrians anywhere near because my rental car ended up completely on the sidewalk - anyone there would surely have been killed. The car - rented while my wife's vehicle is being repaired - is severely damaged but I am lucky that the passenger side was hit rather than the driver side and that I could limp away from the crash.
So no Basi-Virk reporting for me today - I was on my way to BC Supreme Court when I was taken out of the play!
Ironically and not for the first time when I have been unable to attend court, legal arguments kept the jury out of the courtroom and therefore proceedings unreportable due to the publication ban.
The second witness in the trial, Allan Wallace of CIBC World Markets - which handled much of the $1 billion privatization of BC Rail in 2003 - is expected to begin testimony on Tuesday, according to my colleague Neal Hall of the Vancouver Sun.
I am unsure if I will be there yet - I am definitely feeling the crash results tonight - but will try if possible.
UPDATE - TUESDAY MORNING
Thanks to all who have posted, emailed, called or Facebooked to wish me well - it is very much appreciated.
I am currently resting at home, taking more drugs than Michael Jackson and recuperating for the day. I cannot attend the Basi-Virk case at BC Supreme Court today - perhaps Wednesday if I'm feeling better.
Fortunately my colleagues Neal Hall of the Vancouver Sun, Keith Fraser of the Province and likely a reporter from the Globe and Mail will be there today, along with others and citizen observers. I will try to link to those stories when they are online - you can also check The Legislature Raids run by BC Mary for updates and links.
And I just now see that Neal is reporting the trial has yet again been delayed by lawyers arguments, so the witness won't show up before 2 p.m. - and I wouldn't hold your breath on that either.
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27 comments:
Glad to hear you are OK. The seat belt maybe gave you the chest pains, but the folks at the hospital know their job. A half ton can sure make mess of things. Take a few hours off and consider yourself lucky to just have some aches. They should be worse by morning
Glad you're okay Bill - sounds as if you didn't miss much in the courtroom.
I'm pleased to see you're getting to know Joe Arvay a little better - just spent the last hour looking into his brief.
I think he has an interesting, and perhaps winning argument.
Of course, there's an easy remedy for the CEO - just recall the legislature and pass some make-up legislation.
But that WOULD be kind of embarrassing, don't you think?
Hi Bill,
If in doubt - don't go.
Take Care.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Watch your back, and I don't mean that in a conspiratorial way. Watch your neck, too!
Stretching, yoga, hackeysac and other exercises like that are the best for any possible soft tissue injuries. But I'm sure you know ... always follow the advice of a doctor, and that's not me.
The way injuries usually works is, your pain will probaly intensify for a few days. Best to stay home, try to relax for a few days, and be grateful that your fully in tack to enjoy the good weather.
Some one can pick up the slack for you for the next few days.
Glad to see you're okay.
You'll be stiff and sore in the morning. Guaranteed.
Primary goal is to recover. Forget any medical advice given here. Pay attention to your doctor.
The political crap can wait. There's nothing done here that will
change the world of British Columbia in a week, so think of yourself first, and the blog last.
The left needs you because you're one of only a ew sane persons left on the elft side of the spectrum that knows how to think without going nuts. Well most of the time.
The right needs you as well, as a specimen to study when it comes to reacting to adverse enviroments, a specimen with above average intelligence to study.
So both the left and right need you.
So get busy and recover and forget about those who waste time constantly posting here because they haven't got anything else useful to do in politics.
Take care Bill. Thank heavens and glad to hear you are OK.
You poor guy!!!! What a scary and painful experience! Take care of yourself. Why can't life be more fair?
Health comes first! Take good care. Blessings.
What was up with the truck driver? Were they OK? Were they drunk or just stupid? (I don't know if you can speculate...)
Close call, Bill. Let that be your mantra (from the headline above) "Tieleman survives!"
Best wishes for your swift recovery.
Seems to me that if information could be a little more accessible at this trial, you might feel more inclined to give yourself time to recover.
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Bill,
so sorry to hear about your car crash. Yes, please take it easy over the next weeks and months as neck and back injuries can take months and months to fully show up.
Massage, in the short term, and yoga, in the long term, were god-sends for me.
Any witnesses (police officer etc)? Otherwise ICBC may try the old 50/50 @ fault ploy.
sending you good wishes for a fast recovery!
"You poor guy!!!! What a scary and painful experience! Take care of yourself. Why can't life be more fair?"
It isn't most times, but be glad for him, he came out of this being able to see today.
Many accident victims never see the next day.
Or they are physically changed forever.
Bill will be okay in a few weeks
and by August will be fully alive
ready to kick ass.
Thing is, some wish he would kick ass to the NDP for them not doing as much as they could have.
Glad to hear you escaped serious injury. Relax as best you can, out of doors if possible as the weather and providence favour you.
The dawdling pace of Basi-Virk trial is condusive to your full recovery.
sorry to hear that Bill! Hope you feel better soon.
Btw, I really enjoyed your column published today on the hated HST! Thank you.
Hang in there Bill. I am wishing you well and hoping your day after trauma pain makes you good and cranky and you spend the time writing with attitude.
Get well!
I am most glad to read that you are somewhat well. Please take care and pay attention to your feelings and behaviours. I am posting a link to PTSD info which you may find interesting (or possibly annoying). Post Taraumatic Stress Disorder: Automobile Accident is not overly uncommon for someone who has gone through what you have just experienced. All the best. You are one of the good guys, and we want to keep you around.
SIG
Oh dear god Bill, GET OVER YOURSELF!
I hate the expression 'Get over yourself.' It's rude, unempathetic, and stupid. Who ever gets over themselves, and why the hell should they? Bill has had some tough stuff to deal with recently. Why can't he receive a little human support and empathy? Would you, anonymous 4:53, suggest that he not let us know why he is out of commission? We humans are all vulnerable. Try to be a little nicer. It feels a lot better than being mean and crotchety.
As per my above comment:
PTSD:
http://www.mental-health-today.com/ptsd/dsm.htm
Thanks Concerned Citizen and all others - I appreciate it.
Anyone who has been in a significant car crash knows it affects you deeply - I am quite open on this blog about what's going on in my life.
And had I not reported on why I wasn't at Basi-Virk after telling readers I'd be there, it wouldn't be right.
A good thing to do might be to just switch off this hobby blog for two to three weeks, and jsut work on recovery. There isn't much of anything in terms of political events that is going to shake the province that will happen in the next month or so.
There's a few here that freebase on political blogs, so it might be good for them to get weaned off for a few weeks and get out there and enjoy the summer.
No sense in being left, being white pasty because of being indoors typing into blogs all the time, and angry (which some contributors are).
Get well to be well.
Enjoy the summer.
Persue an outdoor hobby in place of this blog hobby.
Be sure to file what the lawyer tells you in terms of the accident incident.
" Anonymous said...
Oh dear god Bill, GET OVER YOURSELF!"
I would suggest that the weirdo above take his own advice.....
Bill, Anonymous 8:44 is giving you just the kind of advice that a PABster or a BC Liberal insider might. First of all, he minimizes your Blog by calling it a "hobby blog", then he advises you to give up your passion for finding and publishing truth with repect to the BC Rail trial.
Bill, You're a big boy now, I say do whatever you want. Further, I admire you for having the patience to publish minimizing advice givers.
And, anon 8:44, if you did not mean to sound the way I have characterized you, then by all means tell us what you really meant without coming across with a condescending tone.
Bill, Anonymous 8:44 is giving you just the kind of advice that a PABster or a BC Liberal insider might. First of all, he minimizes your Blog by calling it a "hobby blog", then he advises you to give up your passion for finding and publishing truth with repect to the BC Rail trial. "
All blogs are hobby blogs. I doubt Bill is making any money from this,
and like the others, both left and right, it is done for hobby rather than occupational revenue reasons.
"Bill, You're a big boy now, I say do whatever you want. Further, I admire you for having the patience to publish minimizing advice givers. "
Both from the left and the right, I agree. Wish the ones on the left would put as much effort into writing to this blog as they would being a volunteer in our NDP party
"And, anon 8:44, if you did not mean to sound the way I have characterized you, then by all means tell us what you really meant without coming across with a condescending tone."
he was probably reacting to the much condescending and protectionist (read "this blog is for left wingers only, no right wingers allowed", which is it isn't).
Widen the scope and accept all opinions even if you disagree with them, that's what these blogs are for.
Left wing blogs or right wing blogs.
That rude ignoramus, saying get over yourself, must be working for Campbell, who is also rude and ignorant.
I know God kept you alive, to teach politically challenged people like me. I never miss your blogs, your sincerity, shines through, no matter what the subject may be.
Now, you make sure you look after yourself, and I look forward, to reading your blogs, when you are better.
I hope that you had a full and complete recovery. I've been busy and hadn't checked your blog in a while.
Judging by the quantity of posts since that incident, it sounds like you've bounced back.
I also hope that the other driver takes responsibilty for the collision and spares you involvement in any legal nonsense. One lengthy legal process in your life is enough.
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