In James Ellroy's novel, Killer On The Road, there were only two serious flaws: One, the serial-killer protagonist Martin Plunkett (yes, that's where my pseudonymous surname comes from, thanks to an editor at Virgin Books who knew I'd ripped off Ellroy's style for my NSFW novel) used a silencer on a revolver, which won't work. Two, his serial-killer van was a Dodge. Now, Dodge vans are great, but everyone knows the well-prepared serial killer always selects a windowless Econoline for those late-night trips to shallow gravesites in the desert or forest. And we've got a really scary one right here, perhaps even scarier than this '69 Econoline Super Van.
Perhaps in an effort to reduce this van's Perceived Menace Factor (PMF), the owner has applied some artsy touches here and there. You know, make the van look like it just hauls gentle artist and raver types to Nevada for Burning Man, where enlightened individuals drop X, wave glow-sticks around, and get naked work together to move the world towards a peaceful and creative future.
However, that effort to reduce PMF doesn't look so successful; this van parks pretty close to my house, and I cross the street to avoid getting too close to it when I'm walking by.
But for the purposes of DOTS I'm willing to take a chance and get close enough for a few photographs. The sacrifices I make for you, dear readers!
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