AtDDtA1: The Hydrogen Skyship Inconvenience
David Morris
fqmorris at gmail.com
Mon Jan 22 15:49:01 CST 2007
convenience
noun
1 [C] a device or machine, usually in the house, which operates
quickly and needs little effort:
The house has every modern convenience.
2 [C usually plural] (ALSO public convenience) FORMAL a public toilet
When I first opened up AtD and saw the name of the Airship
"Inconvenience" I thought about the term "convenience" meaning a
public toilet. Obviously being in an airship might prove a little
"inconvenient" should one need relief. Then I read about everyone's
habit of just peeing over the side, and Pynchon's joke was revealed...
Not exactly what one would consider and "evironmentally-friendly"
ship.
David Morris
On 1/22/07, Dave Monroe <against.the.dave at gmail.com> wrote:
> "It was amid such lively exclamation that the hydrogen airship Inconvenience, its gondola draped with patriotic bunting [...] ascended briskly into the morning, and soon caught the southerly wind." (AtD, Pt. I, p. 3)
More information about the Pynchon-l
mailing list