Chapter 1: Section 5: Page 43: Line 186 (768)

 In the near and far distance, explosions, not always to be identified in the next day's newspapers, now and then sent leisurely rips through the fabric of the day, to which Nate Privett pretended to be listening.

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This has been a pretty slow section that hasn't really needed much commentary or explication. That's the problem with a project like this, especially being done by somebody who hasn't previously read Against the Day at least once. But that's okay because you never know when one of these moments will mean something more later in the book (which is why having previously read it would be helpful). And by concentrating on each line separately, hopefully they'll more fully embed themselves within my mind. Although on the down side, this project will take nine years so how likely am I going to remember one of these early lines seven years down the line?!

"explosions, not always to be identified in the next day's newspapers"
In other words, some explosions are politically acceptable to cover and some might just upset the general masses. If the police blew up an abandoned property where immigrants were squatting, it probably wouldn't get a mention. If anarchists blew up some machinery during a strike, you better believe it will be covered.
    Also some of the explosions are probably mundane everyday explosions by the railroad company or the meat packing industry or construction workers. I don't claim to know what industries regularly blow things up but those sound like three that would totally make blowing things up part of their business model.

"which Nate Privett pretended to be listening"
How does one pretend to listen to explosions happening around you? Aren't you simply automatically hearing them? Or does Pynchon mean Nate is making an excessive show of listening to the explosions? Like nodding and cocking his head to the side when one goes off, perhaps putting one finger in the air as if to say, "There! There! Now that was a good one!"
    Nate's pretending to listen might make more sense when he gets a chance to explain in the next sentence!