List of references (Engineer)

Food and Drink

Red Stripe

The Engineer drinking 'BLU Streak' beer is likely a reference to the real life brand, Red Stripe, though it may also refer to the 'Blue Streak' missile, or to his 'streak' of BLU casualties.

In-Jokes

Favorite Equation

The engineer's "favorite equation" is actually a part of the equation used to govern character lighting in-game.

Music

Goodnight, Irene

“

Well, good night, Irene! — The Engineer

”

Goodnight Irene

"Goodnight, Irene" or "Irene, Goodnight," is a 20th century American folk standard. The lyrics tell how the singer lost his love through "rambling and gambling". He contemplates suicide in the famous line "Sometimes I take a great notion to jump in the river and drown". The final verse urges the listener to "go home to your wife and family". In addition to many recorded versions, it is also a favorite camp and fireside song.

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Old Mother Hubbard

“

...How am I going to stop some big mean mother hubbard from tearing me a structurally superfluous new behind? — The Engineer

”

"Old Mother Hubbard" is a nursery rhyme. Speculative claims have been made that this had to do with Thomas Cardinal Wolsey refusing Henry VIII's divorce from Queen Catherine of Aragon, or even that it was referring to a large trebuchet, but those have been disputed. Here the Engineer uses Mother Hubbard as rhyming slang for 'motherfucker'.

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Someone Else's Song

The song the Engineer plays on his guitar during Meet the Engineer was not originally composed for the video and is called 'Someone Else's Song'. It was originally written by American Country band Wilco for their album Being There.

Places

Bee Cave

The Engineer's place of origin, Bee Cave, is a real city in Travis County, Texas, United States. The population was 656 at the 2000 census; in the 2004 census estimate it was 1,700.

Saying and Phrases

PDQ

The name of the P.D.Q. is a reference to the abbreviated acronym for "Pretty Damn Quick" (alternatively "Pretty Darn Quick" or "Please Do Quickly"), sometimes appended to the end of an instruction or command to communicate urgency.

TV and Film

Ghostbusters

“

Nice shootin', Tex! — The Engineer

”

A reference to the first "Ghostbusters" movie. As the Ghostbusters are trying to trap Slimer while in the Sedgewick Hotel ballroom, Peter says this due to Egon's overenthusiasm with his proton pack.