On page 41, an Israeli newscaster mentions that out of the 150,000 Americans killed by gunfire in the past decade, only 150 were shot in or around a school. Where did you get that statistic?
Mike Males, an author and sociologist, has done extensive research on youth crime in America. He came up with a shocking analysis: it's on the decline! And yet in those 29 months between Columbine and September 11, you couldn't turn on the TV without finding a frothing report about the deadly new wave of teenage violence. Males provided some much-needed perspective, plus some great statistics.

Was Scott's little history of Wilshire Boulevard true (p. 43), or was he just spinning Miranda as usual?
As far as Scott and I both know, the story of H. Gaylord Wilshire is true.

Are deaf people really allowed to drive cars?
Some states require deaf drivers to obtain a special license, but otherwise it's perfectly legal all across the United States. According to the World Federation of the Deaf, however, there are 26 countries that deny its deaf citizens the right to drive.

So how did Jean crash into Scott's Saturn?
She was having an intense argument with Madison, and simply wasn't keeping her eyes on the road.

What were they doing out at 3AM anyway?
Jean later tells Scott that they were coming back from the airport, where Madison often goes when she can't handle her mother. Jean was retrieving Madison for the umpteenth time, hence the argument.

So is this a "love at first sight" thing for Scott and Jean?
Hardly. They both have bigger concerns at the time of their crash encounter. Their attraction doesn't really kick in until their first round of electronic word games in Chapter 13.

What caused Scott's mentor/lover Drea to burn out in 1991?
It's never quite spelled out, but a big fat hint is dropped at the end of the second interlude (page 180). See the corresponding guide entry for details.

Why did you choose to make Scott a mediocre lover?
Because that's how I imagine a cautious and cerebral person like Scott would screw, especially if he's not quite passionate about the woman he's screwing. The point of the whole Miranda episode, in this chapter and the next, is to demonstrate that for all his keen instincts and people skills, Scott's almost completely incapable of relating to someone on an intimate level.