Been in America so long it seems like Europe to me

[jody2.718]

Hicks (probably confused with "Higgs" on the P-list by Corbeau Castrum- "California and the end of the American frontier," Thu Jan 1 08:15:24 UTC 2026, pynchon-l, but maybe not Baloney) seems to have been altered, perhaps after his initial encounter with the weak "Four-Eyes" Bolshevik striker back in the story, p.32, when Hicks felt like killing, but his lead-filled beavertail sap seems to have disappeared. Afterwards Hicks "couldn't get a handle on was relief at not having killed somebody"- apparently a change of heart for Hicks.

And then, in an inversion of forces, on p.104, the weak Four-Eyes turns Up and saves Hicks, warning Hicks' about carrying too heavy a package set to...KABOOM!

Before dumping a package into the Ice of Lake Michigan, Hicks indulges his superstition and remembers a ticket provided by a penny scale ticket earlier, and tries another penny scale, which prints the new ticket "weight on one side and fortune on the other" (p.105) saying:

"What'd I just say? You're carrying TOO MUCH WEIGHT, Einstein, get me? Think about it and don't take too long." (Pynchon's quotes).

It might be interesting what Hicks would see if he looked in the mirror. He might see "Higgs"- the boson the Standard Model required to cause mass (weight with the blessing of Gravity) Even more, in an instant, the reflection (shadow) of "Higgs" looking outward might recognize "Hicks". But Hicks is only a fictional character in a work of fiction.

Symmetries lead to asymmetries and lead to a perfect world- less so. So reality might be required for asymmetry to existence. E.g., by symmetry, the down quark should be lighter than the up quark, but then we wouldn't be here- bumpy ride, warts and all...

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"Oh la
Bump, bump, bump,
down the funny stairs"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weak_interaction#/media/File:Weak_Decay_(flipped).svg