LUDIC LOG

1. If only one had to obtain artistic licenses, and renew them yearly on the basis of age, competence, change of living conditions, etc., I daresay the quality of art would increase somewhat.

2. T.J. Cole: "Those are the kind of cigarettes you have to smoke in hell."

3. The use of the word 'boutique' to describe an overpriced specialty retail store is enough to send both Nick and Percy into a murderous frenzy.

4. George Gregory and Danny Ramirez, guitarist and drummer for friendly rivals Modern Advertising; their cover of "Gee, Officer Krupke" (from the West Side Story soundtrack) prompted one critic to call them "the most aggravating band on the face of the earth".

5. A plane crashed into their car.

6. Price was the only accordion player in the history of the world who could not play "Lady of Spain".

7. Cigarettes are a recurring theme in this book.

8. Z-Brew, a locally produced microbrew, famous for its cheapness, high alcohol content, and zebra-theme label. It is, for obvious reasons, a favorite of many of the principals of this novel.

9. Nick himself was almost superhumanly disinterested in the details of Ms. Sirocco's fascinating occupation; the only mention of it was one naked September night, when Nicky, in a more romantic mood than usual, suggested she favor him with some of her more choice material. The gales of derisive laughter with which she greeted this suggestion caused a more violent fight than usual, which woke up a cranky Percy, who gave them both a good talking to.

10. One of the few things about which Nicky and Sheila were of a single mind was that when Percy started throwing around terms like "metatextual manifestation", it was time to go find something else to do.

11. A Newport Menthol Light 100, of course.

12. A Austin Full Flavored King.

13. Melanie Sirocco, younger by five years and a student majoring in astronomy. They do, indeed, go to Tucson, and from there to Nogales, Mexico, where they engage in a rather interesting adventure that is, unfortunately, not this book's business to chronicle.

14. Thinking (1) she shouldn't have stayed out so late and she's going to be really tired tomorrow (2) she's out of cigarettes and doesn't think she has enough to buy both smokes and gas so (3) which should she get? (4) she doesn't think, or rather hopes, she isn't in love with Nick, it's probably just an infatuation or 'crush' but (5) ten years is a long to have a crush on someone, isn't it? and (6) she wants to go to bed as soon as she gets home but the cat will want to be fed, then be put out damn it (7) where would be a good place to see fireworks this weekend?, she simply forgets to use her turn signal, but luckily there's no one around. No big deal.

15. Swisher Sweet.

16. 'The book': on his 17th birthday, Percy received a portable electronic typewriter. Since that date, he has spent most of his spare time working on something he alternately describes as a novel, a screed, a philosophic and/or political treatise, a screenplay, and an autobiography. It has no title and no one has ever seem more than 2 or 3 pages of it at a time. A few people have expressed interested in it but the mere mention of the book bores Nicky so much he leaves the room until someone changes the subject.

17. #1G, first on the left as you enter the building.

18. This name is also notable because it is the only one in Bennett's Rolodex belonging to a black man.

19. Marlboro Reds in the hard pack.

20. It is only called 'the Beast'.