Tell me about St. Paul, MN - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Benzadmiral · #16 11-27-2007, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

Mr. Carlino deftly opens the unlocked driver's door with his slim-jim and climbs inside, settling into the leather-clad bucket seat. Remembering his extensive hotwiring training gleaned from years of watching "Cops" reruns, he smashes the plastic casing surrounding the turn signal switch assembly with a small hammer and uses a sturdy flat-bladed screwdriver to pry away the locking pawl that disengages the steering column lock. Quickly, he pries away the protective collar around the ignition lock cylinder. In less than twenty seconds, the lock cylinder falls to the floor. Carlino smugly inserts the tip of the screwdriver into the innards of the steering column and with a triumphant twist of the wrist...does not start the car. Nonplussed, he twists again. The bitter March wind cannot overcome the sound of nearby crickets solemnly chirping through the silence of the Oldsmobile. He contorts his body to afford a look into the cylinder and confirms that the screwdriver is well-placed. Another twist...nothing. Cursing under his breath at the utter unreliability of American automobiles, Carlino packs away his hotwire kit and, espying a nearby Subaru Justy that has an ignition lock system made of bubble gum and Reynolds Wrap, sprints out of the Oldsmobile, blissfully unaware that since the 1992 model year, the Oldsmobile 88 has been equipped with GM's VATS antitheft system, which relies on a resistor-equipped ignition key to electrically enable the ignition circuit.

Oops. I thought I remembered hearing that GMs like Oldsmobiles and Chevies were some of the most often stolen cars in America. So should I describe the car as a late '80s GM or Ford? Or would the Subaru Justy be a better bet?

Not that I'm trying to write a handbook for criminals, you understand. . . .
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ETA: I've just looked up the Subaru Justy. It's a little small for my story purposes; if you tried to run somebody down, I have a feeling, the car might get as badly damaged as the person (!).
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PaulC · #17 11-27-2007, 09:30 AM

How about a nice pre-1998 Mercury Grand Marquis?

Jim B. · #18 11-27-2007, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benzadmiral

Oops. I thought I remembered hearing that GMs like Oldsmobiles and Chevies were some of the most often stolen cars in America.
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Twenty years ago the Oldsmobile Cutlass was at the top of the list.

Nowadays it is actually the Honda Accords and Toyota Camrys that are pretty high up there for theft loss (insurance stats reflect it) because each of them represent a rolling repository of discount auto parts for body shops and chop shops. Their driver airbags are especially coveted.

The Cadillac Escalade is another one that the thieves love to nab.

Benzadmiral · #19 12-03-2007, 09:18 AM

Thanks for the tips on St. Paul, folks. I've changed the car to "an early-'90s Mercury Grand Marquis," as PaulC suggested, and the street I mention to Como Avenue, as The Swede suggested.

I'm about 5 pages along, and I've hit one of those nasty speed bumps -- the kind where you realize something in your plot doesn't jibe with human nature. Would you believe that a 25-year-old woman, educated and well off, in this day and age would either (a) not have a cell phone, or (b) not know how to work it?

Yeah. Me neither.

Under what circumstances would such a woman to leave her phone completely off for two whole days -- yet still have it with her -- while she travels east to visit a relative?
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John Doe · #20 12-03-2007, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benzadmiral

Under what circumstances would such a woman to leave her phone completely off for two whole days -- yet still have it with her -- while she travels east to visit a relative?
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Had it on silent and didn't know it.

My wife is a little older but fits your other criteria and hasn't had her blackberry charged for.....I'd say six days. Doesn't turn it on unless travelling or working from home.

Benzadmiral · #21 12-25-2007, 08:04 AM

I finished "Mr. Carlino's Redemption"* just this morning. My first notes on it are dated 11/21, so just over a month from conception to birth, so to speak. It runs 5700 words via MS Word's Tools/Word Count, 6500 via the white space method. It evolved as time went by, as some literary organisms will. Thanks, all, for the help!

* I hate devising, and am no good at, titles. But its prequel was "Mr. Carlino's Project," so . . .
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Jim B. · #22 12-25-2007, 08:14 AM

Well, it sounds like the kind of thing I would like to read, or buy. Probably I am not alone here on Mercedesshop.

Hint,hint.

Benzadmiral · #23 12-25-2007, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Well, it sounds like the kind of thing I would like to read, or buy. Probably I am not alone here on Mercedesshop.

Hint,hint.

Good morning and Merry Christmas, Jim! Thanks for the vote of confidence!

Any idea how I could post it, perhaps in sections? Even if I reformat it to single-spaced paragraphs with a blank line between each, it'll run about 12-13 pages.

(To give you an idea that you wouldn't be wasting your time, the private-eye fiction website Thrillingdetective.com is interested in one of my stories set in 1962 New Orleans. I'm working on the minor revisions they've asked for now. They only pay about $15, but they pay . . . and published authors like Laura Lippman and our local guy O'Neil DeNoux have stories on their website, too. I'd be in good company.)
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Jim B. · #24 12-25-2007, 08:58 AM

Paul,

I don't want to see you give away the store. Before you post it in the public domain, shouldn't you be absolutely sure it carries whatever proper copyright or other proprietary rights it ought to have - it is your work product after all....

Don't get me wrong, we would love to read it, as soon as possible!!!

There would be something REALLY special, though for you, to be able to claim it is protected, SOLD and best of all published. Nothing validates a writer's claim better than that. It is so important.

Sounds like you are doing your dream! That is really great. I recall before your mentioning that you really like to write. This is really good. I like to write also, but am only good enough for private letters to people. What you are doing is a craft, with a lot to it. Don't sell yourself cheap.

But if it is a MS that is a first draft, needs proofreading, spell checking etc. or things, we can help you. hehehe "I'm not a doctor but I'll take a look"

I will leave it to someone else more computer savvy than me, to suggest how you could get it out here to them. You could maybe save privacy to suggest that you email it to people you trust here, PM you with their email, or something like that maybe.

It is something you'd like to share, newly birthed, and very good, but I would be a little wary about putting it out too freely, before you are sure you are protected in every way possible. Just my thought, though.

And merry Christmas morning to you also. No snow here, but tomorrow some is predicted, it is going to be sunny but very cold.