Subjects of historical study today include:

Melungeons

Various "No Man's Land" spaces in America, including the Neutral Ground between Louisiana and Texas, and the Cimmaron Territory of the Oklahoma Panhandle. Wacky, lawless historical stuff!

Various aspects of Romany/Gypsy culture including:

Famous people with Rom blood (Michael Caine - Irish Traveler actually, which is different), Bob Hoskins and (they think) Charlie Chaplin. Rom claims on Elvis seem specious. (But that's what lead me to Melungeons, aka "Black Dutch".)

The close relationship between Romany Law and Orthodox Jewish Law. (It's extremely patriarchal and very restrictive for women. It's odd that the stereotype of the gypsy woman is so sensual and licentious, but that's completely the opposite of her status in Rom culture where she's expected to be virginal at marriage and any indication to the contrary would make her unmarriageable.)

I just read the book Gypsy Boy the other day and I'm trying to place his personal experience within the larger context. It's a fascinating book, btw, and a big bestseller in England. It's been optioned for a movie and he's got a sequel out (about his life on the run from his Gypsy father as a teenager. He came out as gay and ran off with a man. So his father put out a "blood avenger" hit on him and the guy.)

I hadn't realized there was so much enmity between Irish Travelers and British gypsies. (The British gypsies who claim Romany connection still self describe as "gypsy" though they are properly called Romanichel. Welsh and Scottish Rom are distinct and have their own culture/customs.)

I'm going to say the whole Google+ "real names" thing must be over, since someone named "Kittichoo Kaos" just added me.

Ow brenda! Sending calming vibes to you and the kitty.

what do you think of this hotel room?

Stuff of nightmares, I tell you.

Ouch, Brenda! And do watch out for Cat Scratch Fever, because it is a real thing....

Maybe she just has very cruel parents, Amy.

Mr. and Mrs. Kaos were so angry about their surname that they named her Kittichoo out of spite.

Brenda, what Jesse said. At least put antibiotic on the scratch. I had to get IV antibiotics last year because of an untended cat scratch that drew blood.

Definitely keep an eye on it. And when did you get your last tetanus, since it sounds like a puncture wound?

That graffiti is way too much for me, and I love crazy prints and bright colors. I suspect it might give StW fits.

Hec, Bury Me Standing is a good book about Eastern European Roma culture, although they conflate some things with overall regional culture. Just in case you are interested in other aspects of Roma culture.

Hec, Bury Me Standing is a good book about Eastern European Roma culture, although they conflate some things with overall regional culture. Just in case you are interested in other aspects of Roma culture.

Yeah, that's on my list, smonster. I saw that it was the most recent standard work on Romany culture.

you know, I don't post much, but I feel I have to when I catch up on posts about a graffiti room, spending the whole time thinking it was a giraffe room, and wondering what the problem was. Then I clicked the link and all magically becomes clear.

As you were.