[personal log]

[effex]

* I am sick, but not sick enough to stay home from work. This is the worst kind of sick (you know. of the petty illnesses. it is not as bad as being sick sick).

* On upside, I was also not too sick to go on a date last night. It went well!

* Holy cheese but the energy bill is high this month. Have we really been running the heater that much?

* I've been watching TEDtalks on my ipod on the ride to work (I <3 my ipod) - Ryan Lobo: Photographing the hidden story was especially good.

* The more I think about it (and listen to his recent podcasts), the more I think I should take Dan Savage off my top 10 favorite internet people I don't actually know list. I like the frank way he talks about sex and relationships, but the guy has some seriously unexamined male privilege going on.

* I'm doing research for the PRINCESS project (which, seriously, needs a better codename) and could use some assistance finding information on: (1) Daily life/religion/politics in Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, particularly articles/blogs/etc written by women living inside/from those counties. (2) Chinese-American communities in major cities on the East Coast - my only real exposure has been Saving Face so lots of work to do there. Anything written by someone who immigrated from Hong Kong back in 1997 would be especially useful. (3) Street culture, particularly in New York and DC. I'm reading through kaigou's fantastic essays but could use some location-specific material. Ahaha, and this is just the tip of the research iceberg (also looking into: the FBI, Library of Congress, DC police department, Latin (cimorene, did we decide where Blanca was from?) cinema, LP activist groups, the diplomatic community in DC, professional investigators, opera, organized crime, and on and on).

* And a meme, ganked from poisonivory: Ask me one fandom-related question in the comments. This can be fandom specific, general, or about fandom/lj stuff/fic writing/etc. in general. Favorite character, favorite moment, unpopular opinion, something about a fic of mine... whatever. Wackiness encouraged.

Comments

[cimorene]

Nope! I had said that her parents were Mexican movie stars, but that isn't a must, it's just kind of what popped out. I was imagining that she grew up in Hollywood after her mother's death anyway, though. I mean, she could always be doing non-profit work for dwarves in some other country, if that's where she was from.

[effex]

She did grow up in Hollywood (probably from age 12 or so), but how can I obsess over her parents early careers if I'm not sure where they're from? So, hmm. [deletes long and rambling comment because, as it turns out-] you're right, looks like Mexico will work best.

[cimorene]

Argentina also has a bustling homegrown movie industry.

[elspethdixon]

Does this Princess project involve modern-day versions of Disney princesses? Because my inner six-year-old thinks that sounds awesome.

[effex]

Oh yes, it does (I've got to stop linking to Cim's post and just make my own). My inner six-year-old agrees hardcore.

[elspethdixon]

I feel the most vitally important question to ask in response to that post is: What kind of motorcycle does Pocahontis ride? I vote for a Harley Davidson (since the only other American motorcycle manufacturer was, well, Indian, and they shut down in 1952). Or Yamaha or CanAm, if she does off-road riding. They make some nice dirt bikes (or they did in the 70s -- my knowledge of motorcycles stops at about 1979).

[effex]

...I have no idea. That particular conversation went something like:

cimorene: You know, I feel Pocahontis should ride a motercycle.
effex: Ooooooh, with a leather jacket?
cimorene: ...yes.
effex: *_______*
cimorene: *_______*

It's mostly in-city riding, though, so Harley Davidson it is! [makes note]

[elspethdixon]

Harleys, bear in mind, are really freakin' loud -- some European cities actually have noise-ordinance rules against them (it's something to do with the angle the cylinders are set at, and engine timing). So if she's always riding in a city, she might have a Japanese or Italian bike. Or a British one (I see both BMWs and Triumphs around Brooklyn).

I think her leather jacket should have some kind of picture either airbrushed or leather-worked onto the back. Leather pants might also be necessary (there are safety reasons to wear them! Really!).

[effex]

She's in DC for the story... I guess it'll depend on the character - what was her first bike, where did she get it, does she still use it (sentimental reasons) or has she upgraded now that she's in the city and has a decent salary (police detective). Is it her main mode of transportation or a weekend thing? Hmm.

[goes to look up Blackfeet leatherworking]

[cimorene]

My midwestern uncles and cousins all ride Japanese bikes. I was kind of picturing that Pocahontas would ride one of those - she is not in it for the style.

I think she wears jeans though. She likes to go from bike to running through the woods to the diner to impromptu carpentry to playing with neighbourhood kids at the park on her way home if necessary, without changing. And she's naturally very frugal. She doesn't own the most expensive variety of anything.

[cimorene]

Also, she doesn't need a car in DC because of the public transport that's available, so she frequently does show up, when called to a case, on the bike, or else Rolfe drives her.