21: In which the Pynchon Pals write a limerick (Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 3.1-3.2)

History, math, physics, literature, architecture. This book’s a whole course of study! Do we get a little confused here about the difference between “parabolic” and “catenary” arches here? Sure we do. But we’re pretty sure our explanations of calculus check out!

Next time, Gravity’s Rainbow Episodes 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5, or pp. 319-365 in the U.S. Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition.

Support the show and get access to monthly bonus episodes at patreon.com/pynchonpals and follow us @pynchonpals.bsky.social.

For the month of July’s Patreon-exclusive bonus episode we’re watching Merian C. Cooper’s King Kong (1933).

Show Notes:

For more on Gaudí’s arches: “How a Gaudí Building Won Over a Strict Minimalist,” by Ayesha Khan via The Wall Street Journal (https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-a-gaudi-building-won-over-a-strict-minimalist-1457119548)

“The math behind Gravity’s Rainbow (Part8): The shape whose centre of gravity is the Brennschluss point,” by Niklas Riewald (https://niklasriewald.com/2022/02/21/the-math-behind-gravitys-rainbow-part8-the-shape-whose-centre-of-gravity-is-the-brennschluss-point/)

Content warnings: strong language, physical and sexual violence, racism, misogyny, antisemitism, homophobia, genocide.

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Featuring Patrick Fiorilli, Andrew Tillett, and Duri Long.

Produced and edited by Patrick Fiorilli (www.patf.io and @patfio.bsky.social).

Our theme music is “Horology,” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives license on the album Polygondwanaland.