ATDTDA (14) p 395, 396

[mikebailey at speakeasy.net]

source for the Terence McKenna cite on previous memo:
http://mikehagan.com/main.htm

----- oh, I just realized, that scene where he
envisions the duende leading him up into where
the earth subducts him, also relates to the
"Rock of Ages, cleft" theme -------

395: "What was there to do out here but run 
and pursue?" - Tarahumaras maybe had some alternatives
but Frank is caught in pursuit mode

Bolson de Mapimi - 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mapimi_silent_zone

"...perversely showing the snake coiled around the eagle..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Mexico
...in which the eagle is the succesful predator - and yet...

"The original meanings of the symbols were different 
in numerous aspects. The eagle was a representation 
of the sun god Huitzilopochtli, who was very important, 
as the Aztecs referred to themselves as the People 
of the Sun. The cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica), 
full of its fruits, called "tenochtli" in Nahuatl, 
represent the island of Tenochtitlan, upon which 
the Aztec civilization was founded. To the Aztec people, 
the snake represented wisdom, and it had strong 
connotations with the god Quetzalcoatl. To the 
Aztecs, this scene depicting an eagle overpowering 
a snake would be considered wrong."

"And it came to pass...."
doo-ee-oo-ee-oo
wah-waah-aah
doo-ee-oo-ee-oo
wah-waah-ee
(-;


"...a crescent slap, unheard in the noise of the shots..."
and yet this is one of the most vivid sensations
I've brought away from the whole book

thanks Pynchonwiki for:

¿Y el otro?
Spanish: And the other one?

El se fue
Spanish: He left.

jarrito
Spanish: A small jug, usually made of clay.

¿Y cuándo vuelva?
Spanish: And when does he come back?

Nunca me dijo nada, mi jefe.
Spanish: He never told me anything, boss.

Si el caballero quisiera algún recuerdo ...
Spanish: If the gentleman would like any souvenir...

pistoleros
Spanish: gunslingers

"more of a facial shrug than a smile"
I've seen this look

"...to regret."
Frank isn't a killer by nature.
This is what he ended up doing, instead of

finishing mining school

pursuing a career as a mariachi galandronomist

dying in prison

participating in The Knife's rebellion
(hey, what about that anyway, they sure let
him go easily enough - Oust influence?)

or,
becoming Estrella's love

I think it's fair to say: 
Mexican culture is important to Pynchon.
That Lorca essay is stellar.  Even 2 mineral metaphors
at the end, either one potent enough to catalyze another
story like ATD...
and, I've got to learn Spanish - not least because
from what I've seen, Mexican TV is even better than USAn