Quick Fire Questions (A Place to Ask and Answer)

[The Judge]

The men are perverting the course of justice. The woman, too, if she gives a statement to the police and doesn't tell the truth (though she'd likely get a lesser sentence by far in the circumstances). But you've got no death. As far as I'm aware, it's still the case in English law that the foetus is legally not a person, so the baby's death doesn't amount to killing under the relevant provisions -- as David has noted the law was then in his state.

Penalties depend on the offence and what mitigation can be brought. As I've said, a momentary loss of concentration is one thing, driving recklessly ie 90mph in a 30mph zone, or under the influence of drink or drugs will result in higher charges and higher sentences.

 

[Mouse]

Hmm. I'm not sure there needs to be a death in the eyes of the law, just in the woman's eyes.

So, say both men had been drinking. They crash. Baby dies. Men lie about who's driving.

The men would be thinking that the driver would be in trouble, I'm guessing, that's why they lie.

Nobody has to go to jail. I just want huge amounts of guilt.

Thanks TJ, this is hugely helpful.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I do know at the time of the omagh bombing over here, one of the victims was pregnant with twins and they have never been able to be taken into account either from teh civil lawsuit or in terms of the victim numbers. Sad, innit.

 

[Mouse]

Tis pretty sad.

 

[Vertigo]

My only problem is that the men's lie about who is driving would have to be confirmed by the pregnant woman, and your posts suggest that she might not be too happy about that.

 

[Hex]

Does anyone know what those little flat trolley things are that people use when they want to look under a car...? or a lorry maybe...

@Ursa -- thanks. A creeper trolley will do nicely.


and while I'm in the area, is the sentence below likely to make the science (fiction) cognoscenti shout out in horror?

"...checking that nothing had weakened or decayed in the mineral-rich air of the space ship"

 

[Ursa major]

Aren't they (under) car repair trolleys? I've also seen them called creeper trolleys.

 

[Venusian Broon]

cognoscenti horror SHOUT!

Yes, as minerals are usually solid, to have a mineral rich air gives me the image of loads of stones floating about in the interior of the spaceship.

 

[Hex]

oh good lord. Any suggested alternatives? It doesn't matter enormously. Might the air in a space ship be a bit acidic or something?

I read this (but I didn't understand it): "Minerals comprise the dominant mass fraction of the atmospheric aerosol burden. As all geologists know, they are a highly heterogeneous mixture."

And as a plus: now I know that the troposphere is real. I thought Scarlett Thomas made it up.

 

[Venusian Broon]

atmospheric aerosol burden = dust, so the statement is probably right. Essentially tiny bits of sand/clay.

I think!

Emm, as a alternative -

If you want your air full of little things like dust - then 'particulate-rich air'
But that's a bit general. If your ship has had a fire, soot? I'm assuming you're trying to imply that the spaceship is a bit fusty.

Hey, why not 'fusty air'? or Rancid? Stagnant?

Or

Perhaps you want a mineral-like smell?

"...checking that nothing had weakened or decayed in the sharp metallic tang of the space ship air"

You can't beat a good tang -what a word.

 

[Vertigo]

I'm not sure that a "mineral-rich" air would be likely to cause weakening or decaying. However maybe if the air was very moist with an exceptionally high oxygen content. Maybe the hydroponics had gone haywire or something.

 

[Mouse]

My only problem is that the men's lie about who is driving would have to be confirmed by the pregnant woman, and your posts suggest that she might not be too happy about that.

She wouldn't be, but she'd do it at that point in the story...

Sorry Hex, can't help with yours. Questions above my intelligence.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Hex, which character is talking/thinking about those little under-car trolley things? If the character is an experienced motor mechanic or a car enthusiast, they should know the correct technical name, including manufacturer and model number. If the character's knowledge of cars is limited to "I put petrol in, and it goes", then they should refer to it as "one of those little under-car trolley things".

Mouse, car accident victims can have trouble remembering the traumatic incident, so maybe she "remembers" only what the men tell her she remembers...those nagging doubts, though.

 

[Mouse]

Mouse, car accident victims can have trouble remembering the traumatic incident, so maybe she "remembers" only what the men tell her she remembers...those nagging doubts, though.

She has to remember for the story, unfortunately. It's alright though, I've got it covered.

For anybody interested in what would happen to the driver of the car, regarding the law, here's a true story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...aby-in-car-crash-calls-for-change-in-law.html

 

[Hex]

She's an engineer... I never seem to write characters whose jobs I actually know anything about. She spends a reasonable amount of time scuttling about under car-like things. Since this happens on a space ship as they're fleeing the zombie-infested Earth, explaining the trolley-thing should probably be the least of my worries.

Anyhow: so a rickety rubbishy old space ship wouldn't have anything mildly dodgy floating around in the air that would demand particular care be taken to check the baby spaceships?

 

[Glitch]

Hex,

How about carbon dioxide scrubber's not working efficiently or something, leaving a taste/smell in the air ?

Quote from Stargate Universe pilot episode

"The main life support is not so easily fixed. The CO2 scrubbers are decayed beyond repair, and within a day carbon dioxide poisoning will kill everyone. The Destiny, apparently aware of the problem, drops out of FTL and dials the Stargate to a desert planet with the necessary materials to repair the scrubbers."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_scrubber

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_(Stargate_Universe)

 

[Bowler1]

For company x, think RBS and our current credit crunch. That just about pushed us all into a 1920s depression, I cannot think of a better current model, but you may need to add all the banks together for a gobal impact, good luck with that!.....

 

[alchemist]

Two questions...

Q1

Italics within italics: I have a series of dream sequences which I've decided to italicise. Now, for some bizarre reason, I want to highlight certain words within this. So, I un-italicise, right? Or am I better off writing the dream without the italics.

Example:

Coils of mist parted as he moved through it. He had to get there in time; just had to.

Q2

North West?
Northwest?
North-west?
(I've seen them all)

And following on from that,

North Western?
Northwestern?
North-western?

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Q1; your way looked good to me.


Q2; this from a man from the northwest I'd have it as one word, although - might also be valid, but I don't think it looks right as two seperate words.

 

[Pyan]

Two words is OK if it's used as a geographical modifier:

Visit North West England! See Sheep!


Also used as a title, as in the pre-nationalised railway companies:

• London and North Eastern Railway
• Glasgow and South Western Railway