Fun stuff in M&D

[Daniel Harper]

I'm on page 58 of Mason & Dixon -- a much easier read than I was anticipating, 
and seems like a really amazing book. But instead of talking about the 
details, a couple of fun little bits:

1.) From page 10 of the hardcover:

"Keep away fro, harmful Substances, in particular Coffee, Tobacco, and Indian 
Hemp. If you must use the latter, do not inhale."

A Clinton reference in an 18th century historical novel? I laughed out loud -- 
that was unexpected, even for Pynchon. 

But the real classic:

2.) Why would you call a talking dog a Learned English Dog? Perhaps so you can 
get away with a three word phrase, buried in the middle of page 22:

"The L.E.D. blinks, shivers, nods in a resign'd way."

I refuse to believe that Pynchon wasn't fully cognizant of a blinking light 
emitting diode there. So offhand that I didn't even process it as unusual at 
first. 

Yeah, I'm really liking Mason & Dixon so far. 
-- 
No reference to the present day is intended or should be inferred.
--Daniel Harper