a general culture question
Jul. 23rd, 2003 02:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
timepiececlockAmericans who don't live in the SF Bay Area:
Do you know what a "valley girl" is? Or, do you know what "valley girl talk" sounds like?
I'm curious, because I was chatting with my mom, and she thinks valley girl is a slang term that's fairly specific to the Santa Clara Valley and the South Bay. I was surprised... I hadn't thought that it might just be a local phrase, and not a more spread out one, because I'd heard it a lot growing up. I could certainly identify a valley girl stereotype in a movie or on tv. Which of course makes me California-centric, I admit, but hey I do live here.
Do you know what a "valley girl" is? Or, do you know what "valley girl talk" sounds like?
I'm curious, because I was chatting with my mom, and she thinks valley girl is a slang term that's fairly specific to the Santa Clara Valley and the South Bay. I was surprised... I hadn't thought that it might just be a local phrase, and not a more spread out one, because I'd heard it a lot growing up. I could certainly identify a valley girl stereotype in a movie or on tv. Which of course makes me California-centric, I admit, but hey I do live here.
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Not even American but...
Date: 2003-07-23 02:41 am (UTC)The term "valley Girl" is used in the Uk (well, it is where I live) to describe pretty, vacous young American girls who are cheerleaders, hang around spending money in malls, and speak in that sort "clueless" fashion.
Well thats what it means where I come from...
Re: Not even American but...
Date: 2003-07-23 02:47 am (UTC)I knew it wasn't just around here. It probably started in California (I think that movie was set in LA, wasn't it?), but I was certain it was a more recognized phrase.
Re: Not even American but...
Date: 2003-07-23 03:24 am (UTC)I am sure it's origninally a californian word, it just seeped here through movies, tv and the fact we have a high population of US forces in this area (huge airbases).
California, the Bear flag state is a great place. After all, it's the Imperial capital of the USA!
Re: Not even American but...
Date: 2003-07-23 03:26 am (UTC)The Imperial state because...
Date: 2003-07-23 03:40 am (UTC)In the 19th century a bankrupt Property developer living in San Fransico, decieded that what the USA needed was a monarch, an Emperor. He sent a proclamation to the local newspaper decalring himself "His Imperial Majesty, Joshua Norton I, Emperor of the United States Of America"
It was a slow news day so they published the proclamation as a joke. but people sort of took it seriously (I mean they knew he wasn't there emperor or anything, but they treated him like he was). Emperor Norton rode the cities Trams system for free, ate where ever he liked without charge, and had the cities Police salute him as he passed. He also issued his own currency which was exchanged by Banks on a one-for-one basis with the federal dollar.
My mother told me this story when I was little and I thought she made it up! But no it's true. There's lot's of good sites about him on the web,and he's the Reason why I love California even though I have never been there!
Re: The Imperial state because...
Date: 2003-07-23 12:57 pm (UTC)Re: The Imperial state because...
Date: 2003-07-24 12:45 am (UTC)Especailly since the US government had begun cracking down on private currency plans quite ruthlessly.
Norton became quite a national clebrity once the railroads where finished. People came from as far away as New York to met the "beggar King", and his investment bonds (that he sold to tourisist if they asked...he didn't think it was very kingly to sell things) are now collectors items. He was a friend of Mark Twain (the authour thought Norton a kind and humane man) who based several of his Book characters on him.
He also appears as a character in Neil Gaimen's Sandman Comic, which is well worth a read. some one once told me they where going to make a Anime out of it, but I supposes if they had you of all people would know about it!
Re: The Imperial state because...
Date: 2003-07-24 12:49 am (UTC)Re: The Imperial state because...
Date: 2003-07-24 12:53 am (UTC)That sounds like our man!
Emperor Norotn is my favourite monarch. He started no wars, taxed no one into starvation, oppressed no people. No one ever had to die in his name. There aren't many Crowned heads who can claim that!
Re: The Imperial state because...
Date: 2003-07-24 12:59 am (UTC)Re: The Imperial state because...
Date: 2003-07-24 01:08 am (UTC)ReallY?
The British Empire once had a 20 minute war with an Africian nation, but peace was decalred before any fighting. I'm not sure if that is the shortest ever war?
Re: The Imperial state because...
Date: 2003-07-24 01:10 am (UTC)