Difference between revisions of "Pages 470-489"
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− | + | =Pre-dawn, May 1st, YDAU - Steeply & Marathe on the Pleasure Center= | |
==Page 470== | ==Page 470== | ||
− | |||
− | |||
'''stereotaxy'''<br /> | '''stereotaxy'''<br /> | ||
also known as "stereotaxis," this is three-dimensional brain imaging | also known as "stereotaxis," this is three-dimensional brain imaging | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''Elder, Elders'''<br /> | ||
+ | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Olds James Olds], co-discovered the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleasure_center#Experiments_on_rodents "pleasure center"] | ||
'''plutonium-239'''<br /> | '''plutonium-239'''<br /> | ||
Line 15: | Line 16: | ||
'''ablative surgery'''<br /> | '''ablative surgery'''<br /> | ||
− | a treatment for neurological disorders involving freezing or burning of brain tissue | + | a treatment for neurological disorders involving freezing or burning (ablating) of brain or nerve tissue |
==Page 471== | ==Page 471== | ||
Line 23: | Line 24: | ||
==Page 472== | ==Page 472== | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''MK-Ultra''' <br /> | ||
+ | an actual [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_MKULTRA CIA mind-control experiment] starting in the 1950s and continuing well into the 1960s and possibly 70s | ||
==Endnote 198== | ==Endnote 198== | ||
'''''Orlikow et al. v. United States of America'''''<br /> | '''''Orlikow et al. v. United States of America'''''<br /> | ||
− | This was a real case, and you can read the proceedings [http://www. | + | This was a real case, and you can read the proceedings [http://www.randomcollection.info/mcf/orli-01.htm here]. |
==Page 472 (cont'd)== | ==Page 472 (cont'd)== | ||
'''G.C.'''<br /> | '''G.C.'''<br /> | ||
− | Government of Canada, perhaps | + | Government of Canada, perhaps. It may also mean some type of transmitter that can interfere with a pacemaker (which Marathe's father has). |
'''M.M.P.I.'''<br /> | '''M.M.P.I.'''<br /> | ||
Line 40: | Line 44: | ||
'''Millon's'''<br /> | '''Millon's'''<br /> | ||
− | the [ | + | the [http://millon.net/instruments/MCMI_III.htm Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III], another psych inventory |
'''Approception'''<br /> | '''Approception'''<br /> | ||
− | apparently not a real test | + | apparently not a real test, perhaps a misspelt allusion to the Thematic Apperception Test |
'''shiatsu'''<br /> | '''shiatsu'''<br /> | ||
Line 49: | Line 53: | ||
'''weal'''<br /> | '''weal'''<br /> | ||
− | + | well-being | |
'''Turner, Bush, Casey'''<br /> | '''Turner, Bush, Casey'''<br /> | ||
Line 56: | Line 60: | ||
'''Langley'''<br /> | '''Langley'''<br /> | ||
the town in Virginia where the CIA is headquartered | the town in Virginia where the CIA is headquartered | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''pernicious''' <br /> | ||
+ | NOAD: having a harmful effect, especially in a subtle or gradual way | ||
==Page 474== | ==Page 474== | ||
'''divans'''<br /> | '''divans'''<br /> | ||
− | couches or sofas | + | couches or sofas (or chesterfields -- for Canadian readers) |
'''rutting'''<br /> | '''rutting'''<br /> | ||
Line 70: | Line 77: | ||
'''C7'''<br /> | '''C7'''<br /> | ||
The C7 is a modified version of the American M-16 combat rifle. It's implied here that C7 was some kind of security apparatus, but there is no evidence that such a body existed. | The C7 is a modified version of the American M-16 combat rifle. It's implied here that C7 was some kind of security apparatus, but there is no evidence that such a body existed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''R.C.M.P.''' <br /> | ||
+ | '''R'''oyal '''C'''anadian '''M'''ounted '''P'''olice | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''emery board''' <br /> | ||
+ | nail file, cardboard, disposable | ||
==Page 475== | ==Page 475== | ||
− | + | =Gately Driving / Antitoi Brothers= | |
==Page 475== | ==Page 475== | ||
Line 82: | Line 95: | ||
'''cluster migraines'''<br /> | '''cluster migraines'''<br /> | ||
Cluster headaches and migraines are actually two distinct syndromes. | Cluster headaches and migraines are actually two distinct syndromes. | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''quiche''' <br /> | ||
+ | a baked flan or tart with a savory filling thickened with eggs | ||
'''feldspar'''<br /> | '''feldspar'''<br /> | ||
− | a rock-forming mineral | + | NOAD: a rock-forming mineral typically occurring as colourless or pale-coloured crystals and consisting of aluminosilicates of potassium, sodium, and calcium. |
==Page 476== | ==Page 476== | ||
Line 90: | Line 106: | ||
'''E.R.'''<br /> | '''E.R.'''<br /> | ||
Emergency Room | Emergency Room | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''Rebel Yell'''<br /> | ||
+ | a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebel_yell battle cry] used by Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War. You can actually hear a recording of it[http://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/history/what-did-the-rebel-yell-sound-like/] here (after installing a browser extension) | ||
'''CITGO'''<br /> | '''CITGO'''<br /> | ||
− | one of the [http://www.citgo.com/Home.jsp major oil] companies | + | one of the [http://www.citgo.com/Home.jsp major oil] companies. The neon [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citgo_sign#The_Citgo_sign Citgo sign] described here is an iconic landmark in Boston. |
'''70 kph.'''<br /> | '''70 kph.'''<br /> | ||
about 43.5 miles per hour | about 43.5 miles per hour | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''Father & Son Market...Riley's Roast Beef'''<br /> | ||
+ | all of these are references to actual stores and clubs in Allston/Brighton, though many have closed or been renamed and some are on nearby streets and would not be visible to Gately as he drives down Comm. Ave. | ||
'''CVS'''<br /> | '''CVS'''<br /> | ||
Line 105: | Line 127: | ||
'''ς'''<br /> | '''ς'''<br /> | ||
the Greek letter ''sigma'' as it appears in lower case at the ends of words | the Greek letter ''sigma'' as it appears in lower case at the ends of words | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''mysticetously'''<br /> | ||
+ | in the manner of a baleen whale | ||
'''cognomen'''<br /> | '''cognomen'''<br /> | ||
Line 112: | Line 137: | ||
'''tallboys'''<br /> | '''tallboys'''<br /> | ||
− | + | ||
+ | 16oz cans of beer | ||
'''80 kph'''<br /> | '''80 kph'''<br /> | ||
Line 118: | Line 144: | ||
'''Berklee School of Music'''<br /> | '''Berklee School of Music'''<br /> | ||
− | a real school, one of the highest-prestige [http://www.berklee.edu/ music schools] in the U.S. | + | a real school, one of the highest-prestige [http://www.berklee.edu/ music schools] in the U.S., though it has been named Berklee College of Music since B.S. 1970 |
==Page 478== | ==Page 478== | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''tonic machines'''<br /> | ||
+ | "tonic" is a (rapidly disappearing) Boston area term for carbonated soft drinks. | ||
==Endnote 202== | ==Endnote 202== | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''argot'''<br /> | ||
+ | slang, jargon | ||
'''Escherian'''<br /> | '''Escherian'''<br /> | ||
− | referring to the work of Maurits Cornelis (M.C.) Escher (1898-1972), a Dutch graphic artist | + | referring to the work of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._C._Escher Maurits Cornelis (M.C.) Escher] (1898-1972), a Dutch graphic artist famous for his illustrations of repeated patterns and impossible structures. "Escherian signs" would seem to indicate signs that are confusing or impossible to follow. |
==Page 478 (cont'd)== | ==Page 478 (cont'd)== | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''Bread & Circus in Inman Square'''<br /> | ||
+ | a real health food store on Prospect Street in Cambridge between Central and Inman Squares. The Bread & Circus chain was bought by Whole Foods, so this store is now operating as a Whole Foods. | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''microbiotic'''<br /> | ||
+ | probably an intentional misspelling of macrobiotic; a macrobiotic diet primarily consists of whole grains, beans, and vegetables based on the Taoist principles of yin and yang | ||
'''slalom'''<br /> | '''slalom'''<br /> | ||
− | + | NOAD: <i>verb</i>, move or race in a winding path, avoiding obstacles | |
==Page 479== | ==Page 479== | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''madonnas'''<br /> | ||
+ | statues of the Virgin Mary | ||
'''bodegas'''<br /> | '''bodegas'''<br /> | ||
− | + | small grocery stores, usually in Spanish-speaking neighborhoods that are also usually owned and operated by Spanish-speaking people | |
'''crèche'''<br /> | '''crèche'''<br /> | ||
Line 141: | Line 182: | ||
'''propinquous'''<br /> | '''propinquous'''<br /> | ||
− | + | OED alternate form of "propinquitous," that is in propinquity (in various senses); nearby, close at hand. | |
'''Chickens Fresh Killed Daily'''<br /> | '''Chickens Fresh Killed Daily'''<br /> | ||
− | a reference to the prominent 'Live Poultry Fresh Killed' sign of the Mayflower Poultry Company at 621 Cambridge | + | a reference to the prominent 'Live Poultry Fresh Killed' sign of the [http://bostonist.com/2007/09/07/mayflower_poult.php Mayflower Poultry Company] at 621 Cambridge Street, East Cambridge, about a half a mile from Inman Square. |
+ | |||
+ | '''Ryle's Jazz Club'''<br /> | ||
+ | a reference to [http://www.rylesjazz.com/ Ryles Jazz Club] (no apostrophe) in Inman Square, Cambridge, at 212 Hampshire Street. | ||
'''briar pipes'''<br /> | '''briar pipes'''<br /> | ||
− | a type of | + | a type of [http://www.tinderboxinternational.com/briar.htm pipe] for smoking |
+ | |||
+ | '''tympanum'''<br /> | ||
+ | a, usually decorative, semicircular or triangular wall face above an entrance | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''Sancta Something'''<br /> | ||
+ | perhaps a reference to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sancta_Sanctorum Sancta Sanctorum], a famous Italian side chapel | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''finials'''<br /> | ||
+ | decorative ornaments placed on the apex of roofs | ||
'''60 k'''<br /> | '''60 k'''<br /> | ||
Line 159: | Line 212: | ||
'''aerodyne'''<br /> | '''aerodyne'''<br /> | ||
a heavier-than-air aircraft deriving lift from motion | a heavier-than-air aircraft deriving lift from motion | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Endnote 203== | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''solecism'''<br /> | ||
+ | nonstandard or ungrammatical usage | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Page 480 (cont'd)== | ||
'''viz.'''<br /> | '''viz.'''<br /> | ||
− | abbreviation for ''videlicet'' (Latin) | + | abbreviation for ''videlicet'' (Latin), meaning "namely" or "specifically" or "in other words" |
'''CQBC'''<br /> | '''CQBC'''<br /> | ||
not a real entity, but probably here denoting a French-Canadian radio station | not a real entity, but probably here denoting a French-Canadian radio station | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''sterno'''<br /> | ||
+ | a fuel made from denatured and jellied alcohol burned directly from the can | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''hobnail boots'''<br /> | ||
+ | heavy-duty boots with hobnails, short, thick-headed nails used to protect footwear, on the soles to provide durability and traction on unfavorable terrain | ||
'''monomitotic'''<br /> | '''monomitotic'''<br /> | ||
− | "Mitosis" is cell division | + | "Mitosis" is cell division, and Wallace is playing with words again: "monomitosis" could be the one-time-only splitting of a cell; in this case, the "cell" is a group of insurgents rather than the biological unit, and "monomitotic" might imply that once it splits (i.e., separates to accomplish its targeted task), it dissolves or disbands. |
'''Gaspé Peninsula'''<br /> | '''Gaspé Peninsula'''<br /> | ||
a [http://www.great-adventures.com/destinations/canada/gaspe.html region] in northern Québec | a [http://www.great-adventures.com/destinations/canada/gaspe.html region] in northern Québec | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''U.S.A. Civic War hero's Boylston St. statue'''<br /> | ||
+ | Civil is probably intended where one reads Civic, probably a reference the Robert Gould Shaw statue that Joelle van Dyne passes on p. 223. DFW appears to have moved the Shaw memorial from Beacon Street to Boylston Street. | ||
'''''chiens-courants'''''<br /> | '''''chiens-courants'''''<br /> | ||
− | French: running dogs | + | French: running dogs, hounds |
==Page 481== | ==Page 481== | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''interdicted'''<br /> | ||
+ | prohibited with official authority | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''Van Buskirk of Montreal'''<br /> | ||
+ | Bacon & Van Buskirk is a glass company in Wallace's home town of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''Provincial Autoroute 55'''<br /> | ||
+ | Quebec north-south highway that runs from Shawinigan to Stanstead at the US border, where it connects with... | ||
'''U.S.A. 91'''<br /> | '''U.S.A. 91'''<br /> | ||
Line 182: | Line 260: | ||
'''Bellow's Falls VT'''<br /> | '''Bellow's Falls VT'''<br /> | ||
a town off Route 91, about 70 miles west of Manchester, N.H. | a town off Route 91, about 70 miles west of Manchester, N.H. | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''credulous'''<br /> | ||
+ | gullible | ||
'''paisley'''<br /> | '''paisley'''<br /> | ||
Line 187: | Line 268: | ||
'''Nehru jacket'''<br /> | '''Nehru jacket'''<br /> | ||
− | A collarless jacket named for Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964), first Prime Minister of India and father of Indira Gandhi | + | A collarless jacket named for Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964), first Prime Minister of India and father of Indira Gandhi. Nehru jackets were popular among hippies in the B.S. 1960s |
'''''école-spéciale'''''<br /> | '''''école-spéciale'''''<br /> | ||
French: special school | French: special school | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''Ste.-Anne-des-Monts'''<br /> | ||
+ | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-Anne-des-Monts,_Quebec city] on the north shore of the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec | ||
'''''Va chier, putain!'''''<br /> | '''''Va chier, putain!'''''<br /> | ||
Line 208: | Line 292: | ||
'''impost'''<br /> | '''impost'''<br /> | ||
something imposed, as a tax or duty | something imposed, as a tax or duty | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''notions'''<br /> | ||
+ | miscellaneous small, useful items | ||
==Page 483== | ==Page 483== | ||
Line 215: | Line 302: | ||
'''Saprogenic'''<br /> | '''Saprogenic'''<br /> | ||
of or pertaining to putrefaction or rotting | of or pertaining to putrefaction or rotting | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''treacly'''<br /> | ||
+ | sweet or sentimental | ||
==Page 483 (cont'd)== | ==Page 483 (cont'd)== | ||
Line 221: | Line 311: | ||
illegal | illegal | ||
− | '''IL NE FAUT PLUS QU'ON PURSUIVE LE BONHEUR'''<br /> | + | '''IL NE FAUT PLUS QU'ON PURSUIVE LE BONHEUR'''<br /> |
− | French: It is no longer necessary to pursue happiness | + | French: POURSUIVRE is probably intended. It is no longer necessary to pursue happiness. Note: "on", translating as the pronoun "one", is often used in colloquial Québécois to replace "nous" ("we"). Also, "il ne faut pas", translating word-for-word as "it is not necessary", is very often used imperatively to mean "one should/must not" or "do not". So, the line on the cartridge could also translate as "we must stop pursuing happiness". Perhaps one might prefer "One no longer needs to pursue happiness." |
==Page 484== | ==Page 484== | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''domestic'''<br /> | ||
+ | a person hired to perform household tasks, e.g., cleaning | ||
'''125-kilo'''<br /> | '''125-kilo'''<br /> | ||
about 276 lbs | about 276 lbs | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''variegated'''<br /> | ||
+ | streaked or patched with multiple colors | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''defile'''<br /> | ||
+ | a line of soldiers | ||
'''ROPAS'''<br /> | '''ROPAS'''<br /> | ||
− | + | Portuguese: CLOTHES | |
+ | |||
+ | '''glyph'''<br /> | ||
+ | a hieroglyphic character or symbol, a pictogram (that is sometimes engraved or incised) | ||
==Page 485== | ==Page 485== | ||
Line 236: | Line 338: | ||
'''union-suit underwear'''<br /> | '''union-suit underwear'''<br /> | ||
one-piece long undergarments | one-piece long undergarments | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''chiens'''<br /> | ||
+ | French: dogs | ||
'''stelliform'''<br /> | '''stelliform'''<br /> | ||
Line 241: | Line 346: | ||
==Page 486== | ==Page 486== | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''transperçant'''<br /> | ||
+ | French: "stabbing or piercing," but also "transfixing" | ||
'''baguette'''<br /> | '''baguette'''<br /> | ||
Line 247: | Line 355: | ||
'''cerise'''<br /> | '''cerise'''<br /> | ||
deep red to purple in color | deep red to purple in color | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''teratoid'''<br /> | ||
+ | resembling a monster; monstrous (from Greek teras, terat- "monster.") | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''supplicant's'''<br /> | ||
+ | beggar's | ||
''''''n soir, 'sieur'''''<br /> | ''''''n soir, 'sieur'''''<br /> | ||
− | an elision of ''bon soir, monsieur,'' i.e., " | + | an elision of ''bon soir, monsieur,'' i.e., "Good evening, sir" in French |
− | ''''''Malhereusement, ton collégue est | + | ''''''Malhereusement, ton collégue est décédé. Il faisait une excellente soupe aux pois.''''''<br /> |
French: Sadly, your friend is dead. He made an excellent pea soup. | French: Sadly, your friend is dead. He made an excellent pea soup. | ||
+ | |||
+ | on p. 425, Marathe outlined a hypothetical in which two people both wanted a Habitant ''soupe aus pois'' that belonged to someone who had recently died | ||
''''''Non? Ou c'était toi, faisait-elle?''''''<br /> | ''''''Non? Ou c'était toi, faisait-elle?''''''<br /> | ||
− | French: No? | + | French: No? Or was it you that made it? |
==Page 487== | ==Page 487== | ||
Line 269: | Line 385: | ||
'''''ne pas plaisanter'''''<br /> | '''''ne pas plaisanter'''''<br /> | ||
− | French: not | + | French: do not joke |
'''''iront paître'''''<br /> | '''''iront paître'''''<br /> | ||
− | French: they will go to | + | French idiom: They'll pack up and head out, literally they will go to graze |
'''''entend-il?'''''<br /> | '''''entend-il?'''''<br /> | ||
French: Does he hear? | French: Does he hear? | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''repast'''<br /> | ||
+ | meal | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''maxillofacial'''<br /> | ||
+ | relating to the jaw and face | ||
==Page 488== | ==Page 488== | ||
Line 281: | Line 403: | ||
'''''inutile'''''<br /> | '''''inutile'''''<br /> | ||
French: useless | French: useless | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''leonine'''<br /> | ||
+ | resembling a lion | ||
'''natal'''<br /> | '''natal'''<br /> | ||
Line 286: | Line 411: | ||
'''aphonia'''<br /> | '''aphonia'''<br /> | ||
− | + | loss of or inability to speak (of many possible causes, blockage of the airway, disease or injury of larynx, brain, or nerve | |
+ | |||
+ | '''aphrasiac'''<br /> | ||
+ | the inability to speak words in intelligible order is probably intended, but by Hal's criteria, this is a neologism | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''half-cellular'''<br /> | ||
+ | half consisting of living cells, i.e., half-dead | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''Chic-Choc lakes'''<br /> | ||
+ | the Chic-Choc mountains are in the Gaspé Peninsula | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''Cap-Chat'''<br /> | ||
+ | a town in the Gaspé Peninsula | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''culcate'''<br /> | ||
+ | neologism perhaps stemming off of inculcate, here meaning implanted. Another similar word is "calcate", meaning "To trample or stamp under the heel" (OED). So he might have intended it to mean "stamping". | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''inguinal canal'''<br /> | ||
+ | a passage in the lower front part of the abdominal wall | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''sigmoid'''<br /> | ||
+ | the sigmoid colon is the part of the large intestine closest to the rectum | ||
'''muskie'''<br /> | '''muskie'''<br /> |
Latest revision as of 02:17, 3 November 2018
- Editors: Please keep these annotations SPOILER-FREE by not revealing information from later pages in the novel. And please pay attention to formatting and grammar. Preview your changes before saving them. Thanks!
Contents
- 1 Pre-dawn, May 1st, YDAU - Steeply & Marathe on the Pleasure Center
- 2 Gately Driving / Antitoi Brothers
- 2.1 Page 475
- 2.2 Page 476
- 2.3 Page 477
- 2.4 Page 478
- 2.5 Endnote 202
- 2.6 Page 478 (cont'd)
- 2.7 Page 479
- 2.8 Page 480
- 2.9 Endnote 203
- 2.10 Page 480 (cont'd)
- 2.11 Page 481
- 2.12 Page 482
- 2.13 Page 483
- 2.14 Endnote 204
- 2.15 Page 483 (cont'd)
- 2.16 Page 484
- 2.17 Page 485
- 2.18 Page 486
- 2.19 Page 487
- 2.20 Page 488
- 2.21 Page 489
Pre-dawn, May 1st, YDAU - Steeply & Marathe on the Pleasure Center
Page 470
stereotaxy
also known as "stereotaxis," this is three-dimensional brain imaging
Elder, Elders
James Olds, co-discovered the "pleasure center"
plutonium-239
a fissile isotope of plutonium
ablative surgery
a treatment for neurological disorders involving freezing or burning (ablating) of brain or nerve tissue
Page 471
Q-dopa
not a real neurotransmitter
Page 472
MK-Ultra
an actual CIA mind-control experiment starting in the 1950s and continuing well into the 1960s and possibly 70s
Endnote 198
Orlikow et al. v. United States of America
This was a real case, and you can read the proceedings here.
Page 472 (cont'd)
G.C.
Government of Canada, perhaps. It may also mean some type of transmitter that can interfere with a pacemaker (which Marathe's father has).
M.M.P.I.
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, a commonly administered psychological test designed to give an overview of personality, neuroses, etc.
Page 473
Millon's
the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III, another psych inventory
Approception
apparently not a real test, perhaps a misspelt allusion to the Thematic Apperception Test
shiatsu
a type of Asian massage
weal
well-being
Turner, Bush, Casey
Admiral Stansfield Turner was head of the CIA from 1977 to 1981. George H.W. Bush (later President) was CIA head from 1976 to 1977. William J. Casey was head from 1981 to 1987.
Langley
the town in Virginia where the CIA is headquartered
pernicious
NOAD: having a harmful effect, especially in a subtle or gradual way
Page 474
divans
couches or sofas (or chesterfields -- for Canadian readers)
rutting
heat, i.e., sexual excitement
N.S.A.
National Security Agency
C7
The C7 is a modified version of the American M-16 combat rifle. It's implied here that C7 was some kind of security apparatus, but there is no evidence that such a body existed.
R.C.M.P.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
emery board
nail file, cardboard, disposable
Page 475
Gately Driving / Antitoi Brothers
Page 475
princess-and-pea
a reference to the fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea," wherein despite several mattresses, a princess can still feel a single pea below her
cluster migraines
Cluster headaches and migraines are actually two distinct syndromes.
quiche
a baked flan or tart with a savory filling thickened with eggs
feldspar
NOAD: a rock-forming mineral typically occurring as colourless or pale-coloured crystals and consisting of aluminosilicates of potassium, sodium, and calcium.
Page 476
E.R.
Emergency Room
Rebel Yell
a battle cry used by Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War. You can actually hear a recording of it[1] here (after installing a browser extension)
CITGO
one of the major oil companies. The neon Citgo sign described here is an iconic landmark in Boston.
70 kph.
about 43.5 miles per hour
Father & Son Market...Riley's Roast Beef
all of these are references to actual stores and clubs in Allston/Brighton, though many have closed or been renamed and some are on nearby streets and would not be visible to Gately as he drives down Comm. Ave.
CVS
a large chain of drugstores
75 k
about 46.6 miles per hour
ς
the Greek letter sigma as it appears in lower case at the ends of words
mysticetously
in the manner of a baleen whale
cognomen
a descriptive nickname
Page 477
tallboys
16oz cans of beer
80 kph
almost 50 miles per hour
Berklee School of Music
a real school, one of the highest-prestige music schools in the U.S., though it has been named Berklee College of Music since B.S. 1970
Page 478
tonic machines
"tonic" is a (rapidly disappearing) Boston area term for carbonated soft drinks.
Endnote 202
argot
slang, jargon
Escherian
referring to the work of Maurits Cornelis (M.C.) Escher (1898-1972), a Dutch graphic artist famous for his illustrations of repeated patterns and impossible structures. "Escherian signs" would seem to indicate signs that are confusing or impossible to follow.
Page 478 (cont'd)
Bread & Circus in Inman Square
a real health food store on Prospect Street in Cambridge between Central and Inman Squares. The Bread & Circus chain was bought by Whole Foods, so this store is now operating as a Whole Foods.
microbiotic
probably an intentional misspelling of macrobiotic; a macrobiotic diet primarily consists of whole grains, beans, and vegetables based on the Taoist principles of yin and yang
slalom
NOAD: verb, move or race in a winding path, avoiding obstacles
Page 479
madonnas
statues of the Virgin Mary
bodegas
small grocery stores, usually in Spanish-speaking neighborhoods that are also usually owned and operated by Spanish-speaking people
crèche
a nativity scene
propinquous
OED alternate form of "propinquitous," that is in propinquity (in various senses); nearby, close at hand.
Chickens Fresh Killed Daily
a reference to the prominent 'Live Poultry Fresh Killed' sign of the Mayflower Poultry Company at 621 Cambridge Street, East Cambridge, about a half a mile from Inman Square.
Ryle's Jazz Club
a reference to Ryles Jazz Club (no apostrophe) in Inman Square, Cambridge, at 212 Hampshire Street.
briar pipes
a type of pipe for smoking
tympanum
a, usually decorative, semicircular or triangular wall face above an entrance
Sancta Something
perhaps a reference to the Sancta Sanctorum, a famous Italian side chapel
finials
decorative ornaments placed on the apex of roofs
60 k
about 37.3 miles per hour
Page 480
MF
Millennial Fizzy
aerodyne
a heavier-than-air aircraft deriving lift from motion
Endnote 203
solecism
nonstandard or ungrammatical usage
Page 480 (cont'd)
viz.
abbreviation for videlicet (Latin), meaning "namely" or "specifically" or "in other words"
CQBC
not a real entity, but probably here denoting a French-Canadian radio station
sterno
a fuel made from denatured and jellied alcohol burned directly from the can
hobnail boots
heavy-duty boots with hobnails, short, thick-headed nails used to protect footwear, on the soles to provide durability and traction on unfavorable terrain
monomitotic
"Mitosis" is cell division, and Wallace is playing with words again: "monomitosis" could be the one-time-only splitting of a cell; in this case, the "cell" is a group of insurgents rather than the biological unit, and "monomitotic" might imply that once it splits (i.e., separates to accomplish its targeted task), it dissolves or disbands.
Gaspé Peninsula
a region in northern Québec
U.S.A. Civic War hero's Boylston St. statue
Civil is probably intended where one reads Civic, probably a reference the Robert Gould Shaw statue that Joelle van Dyne passes on p. 223. DFW appears to have moved the Shaw memorial from Beacon Street to Boylston Street.
chiens-courants
French: running dogs, hounds
Page 481
interdicted
prohibited with official authority
Van Buskirk of Montreal
Bacon & Van Buskirk is a glass company in Wallace's home town of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois.
Provincial Autoroute 55
Quebec north-south highway that runs from Shawinigan to Stanstead at the US border, where it connects with...
U.S.A. 91
Interstate 91, which runs from New Haven, Conn, to Derby Line, Vt., at the Canadian border
Bellow's Falls VT
a town off Route 91, about 70 miles west of Manchester, N.H.
credulous
gullible
paisley
a popular design originating in Scotland
Nehru jacket
A collarless jacket named for Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964), first Prime Minister of India and father of Indira Gandhi. Nehru jackets were popular among hippies in the B.S. 1960s
école-spéciale
French: special school
Ste.-Anne-des-Monts
city on the north shore of the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec
Va chier, putain!
French: Piss off, whore!
trop formidable
French: too strong
Page 482
Basel
a city of Switzerland about 50 miles north of the capital of Bern
tu-sais-quoi
French: you know what
impost
something imposed, as a tax or duty
notions
miscellaneous small, useful items
Page 483
Endnote 204
Saprogenic
of or pertaining to putrefaction or rotting
treacly
sweet or sentimental
Page 483 (cont'd)
illicit
illegal
IL NE FAUT PLUS QU'ON PURSUIVE LE BONHEUR
French: POURSUIVRE is probably intended. It is no longer necessary to pursue happiness. Note: "on", translating as the pronoun "one", is often used in colloquial Québécois to replace "nous" ("we"). Also, "il ne faut pas", translating word-for-word as "it is not necessary", is very often used imperatively to mean "one should/must not" or "do not". So, the line on the cartridge could also translate as "we must stop pursuing happiness". Perhaps one might prefer "One no longer needs to pursue happiness."
Page 484
domestic
a person hired to perform household tasks, e.g., cleaning
125-kilo
about 276 lbs
variegated
streaked or patched with multiple colors
defile
a line of soldiers
ROPAS
Portuguese: CLOTHES
glyph
a hieroglyphic character or symbol, a pictogram (that is sometimes engraved or incised)
Page 485
union-suit underwear
one-piece long undergarments
chiens
French: dogs
stelliform
in the form of a star
Page 486
transperçant
French: "stabbing or piercing," but also "transfixing"
baguette
a long roll of French bread
cerise
deep red to purple in color
teratoid
resembling a monster; monstrous (from Greek teras, terat- "monster.")
supplicant's
beggar's
'n soir, 'sieur
an elision of bon soir, monsieur, i.e., "Good evening, sir" in French
'Malhereusement, ton collégue est décédé. Il faisait une excellente soupe aux pois.'
French: Sadly, your friend is dead. He made an excellent pea soup.
on p. 425, Marathe outlined a hypothetical in which two people both wanted a Habitant soupe aus pois that belonged to someone who had recently died
'Non? Ou c'était toi, faisait-elle?'
French: No? Or was it you that made it?
Page 487
wangs
slaps or bangs against
frère
French: brother
sphincter
Any muscle in ring form, here it means the anus, which has failed Lucien by allowing him to soil himself
ne pas plaisanter
French: do not joke
iront paître
French idiom: They'll pack up and head out, literally they will go to graze
entend-il?
French: Does he hear?
repast
meal
maxillofacial
relating to the jaw and face
Page 488
inutile
French: useless
leonine
resembling a lion
natal
like a baby's
aphonia
loss of or inability to speak (of many possible causes, blockage of the airway, disease or injury of larynx, brain, or nerve
aphrasiac
the inability to speak words in intelligible order is probably intended, but by Hal's criteria, this is a neologism
half-cellular
half consisting of living cells, i.e., half-dead
Chic-Choc lakes
the Chic-Choc mountains are in the Gaspé Peninsula
Cap-Chat
a town in the Gaspé Peninsula
culcate
neologism perhaps stemming off of inculcate, here meaning implanted. Another similar word is "calcate", meaning "To trample or stamp under the heel" (OED). So he might have intended it to mean "stamping".
inguinal canal
a passage in the lower front part of the abdominal wall
sigmoid
the sigmoid colon is the part of the large intestine closest to the rectum
muskie
short for "muskellunge," a type of fish
Page 489