Operation: Decomp

[TaterTot_137]

Hey, if you've been on When the [Chat] Hits the Fan, you know that I'm about to put in time on a zombie comic.

When I have a few pages up, I'll link it, but first:

I have some questions!
#1- Louisianna and the bayous in that area: what is it like? What's popular in trucks and lifestyle right now? Temp, accent, weather, anything you can tell me, I would love to hear.
#2- Trucks: trying to figure out the basic design for Rio's truck, Kit. Rio is only a very mild prepper, but he's a truck fanatic. Load me up on facts, guys.
#3- Skills: I have my main three figured, but what are other skill sets that may or may not be useful if we meet other people?
#4- Other things: what do you all want to see? What would make this comic interesting? Is Tic-Tac a good name for a cockroach? What random, non-zombie related things would you encounter if the entire world shut off access to the Americas?

Have fun!

[RickOShea]

I worked in Lafayette, LA for a short time a few years ago.

Everybody called each other "Tee". As in "What's up, Tee?" "What you up to today, Tee?".

They mixed a lot of French nouns in with their English. One I heard more than a few times was "You stupid mouton (sheep)".

My co-worker almost got attacked by two German Shepards. The owner called them off just in time, and the little Acadian fellow was giving the commands in French.

Food, food, food. Some of the best I ever ate, even in the little road side dives and juke-joints.

I didn't see much of the bayous, but I did see a lot of sugar cane fields and crawfish ponds.

Oh yeah, the local news weatherman gave the forecast in English, then gave it again in French Creole.

[Tater Raider]

#2- Trucks: trying to figure out the basic design for Rio's truck, Kit. Rio is only a very mild prepper, but he's a truck fanatic. Load me up on facts, guys.

Check Transportation. I'd especially take a look at the bug-out porn thread - whatever grabs your eye there might be a good place to start. Also diesel power tuning has it's own world and that kinda sounds like what you are looking for.

[Doctorr Fabulous]

Trucks. Hehe, trucks are a big can of worms. You're hitting a real general area here, but I'm assuming he's driving some kind of pickup truck. The first decision is Amurkhin or Nipponese. A true bayou boy will likely shoot for an old Chevy, Ford, or Dodge with a decent life, 35" or better tires, a nice exhaust, CB radio with 10' whip, gun rack, spare tire, jack, winch, come-along, impact bumper, spotlights, and mud up to the door handles. Or maybe that's just my redneck dream.

This Bronco is a solid looker, since the back shell is removable. Here's a nice Chevy, and the immortal Tacoma.

A lot of the specs will depend on what he needs a truck for. Does he go mud boggin' or stump jump with it? Overland, trail running, or is he like me?

I like big trucks and I cannot lie,
Them other brothers can't deny,
When that chevy rolls in with a bed full of win
And mud all up the rim-
You get sprung, wanna pull out his truck
'Cause you notice that Ford was stuck
Deep in the mud he's swearing
Hooked in, my winch is snaring
Oh baby, the tree is coming down
So take a picture
My homeboys tried to warn me
But my pumpkins swing too low for this
Ooh, but I just took a risk
You say you wanna get in a Benz?
Well darlin' that depends
'Cause you know them cars can't mud
Wanna go dancin'
To the barn for some romancin'
I won't sweat
Got it goin' like a turbo 'Vette
I'm tired of magazines
Sayin' low trucks are the thing
Take the average redneck and ask him that
Suspension gotta get jacked, Mack!
So, fellas! (Yeah!) Fellas! (Yeah!)
Does your girlfriend like your truck? (Hell yeah!)
Tell 'em to mud it! (Mud it!) Mud it! (Mud it!)
Mud that big ol' truck!
Chevy's got trucks!

-I Like Big Trucks, courtesy of Doc Torr's Amazing Brown Jug Band! (it's mostly the jug...)

I can talk to my coonass ex-roomie about the culture, but you're looking at two really unique groups that you see nowhere else: Cajuns, the descendants of the original French (Acadian) settlers, and Creole. For reference, this! A cajun accent is fun to paly with, especially for a side character, since someone else with likely have to translate for him most of the time.

Also, his background will likely determine the name for any pets. I'd say Fay-doh-doh for the cochroach, as a nod to the unique Cajun language.
Dictionary Here and [ur=http://appl003.lsu.edu/artsci/frenchweb.nsf/$content/Cajun+French+Glossary?OpenDocumentl]Here[/url]

And Rick=Acadians are native to Nova Scotia and its surrounding areas. In louisiana they're Cajuns.

[RickOShea]

And Rick=Acadians are native to Nova Scotia and its surrounding areas. In louisiana they're Cajuns.

Actually, the Acadians resettled from Canada to Louisiana when they were chased off by the British, after the French & Indian War, IIRC.


Doc Torr, get yer learn on:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acadiana

ETA: There's also a small population of Spanish Cajuns still around....But I don't want to blow your mind with that one.

[Doctorr Fabulous]

In my defense, Nova Scotia is part of canada.

Also, I admit my faux pas, not all Cajuns are descended from Acadians, but most claim some Acadian or French Canadian ancestry.

Still looking for my Coonass...he taught me a fair bit, but there's always more to learn.

[TaterTot_137]

Also, his background will likely determine the name for any pets. I'd say Fay-doh-doh for the cochroach, as a nod to the unique Cajun language.

Thanks. Actually, the one with a pet roach (sadly) isn't even from LA. He's from Memphis, TN, but he got stuck in Jackson, MS around the time the outbreak got big. No idea what I'm doing with his voice.

[RickOShea]

Most of the ones I've met, when pressed, admit that they prefer to be called Acadians instead of Cajuns.

ETA: One of the girls at my office is a Spanish Cajun from Houma, but I can't remember what she said their "nick-name" was.

[RickOShea]

They love their jacked-up, snorkled, mud competition ATVs as much as their pick-up trucks.


Whenever we take our sport quads over to L.A. Dunes, we see dozens and sometimes hundreds of these behemoths crawling all over the sand dunes. They'd drive them everywhere if it was legal to.

[Doctorr Fabulous]

All the Cajuns I know prefer Cajun, coonass, or rednecks. Real blue collar folks. I actually don't think Pee-Pee could pronounce Acadian, since the third day of his week is "Tchoosdee" and he wanted to go to the Barn (redneck bar) for a "bon fay dodo."

Tenneseean...How'bout Stonewall? Because that little bug is hard to kill!

Jest keep in mine that a Suthun drall is gen'rally 'bout 'lemonatin' letters an' trine t'keep words's mon'syllbic as poss'bull.

Truth on the ATVs.

[RickOShea]

I think you could choose whatever kind of pick-up that tickles your fancy, just make sure it has:


A dog box....



....And a light rack and brush guard (throw in a winch for good measure).

[TaterTot_137]

Thanks, y'all. You've been a great help to me. Your reward: the link next to my PM? That's my comic site.

[RickOShea]

#3- Skills: I have my main three figured, but what are other skill sets that may or may not be useful if we meet other people?

I'm thinking some of those Acadian/Cajun types would be pretty good amature electricians. Seems like a lot of the little cabins and fishing camps all have 3-phase power to feed the large deep-freezes they all seem to have.

Probably good at mechanics: helping a buddy put a crate motor in his mud riding jeep, maybe have some experience with diesel engines and hydraulic systems from working on commercial fishing vessels and tug boats.

Most likely took "welding" at the HS trade school so they could try to get a job at a ship yard or oil terminal.

Probably pretty good at tying knots and general rope work from growing up using and repairing cast nets and shrimp nets.

[shrapnel]

All I can help with is a handy guide to decomposition.

[RickOShea]

#4- Other things: what do you all want to see? What would make this comic interesting? Is Tic-Tac a good name for a cockroach? What random, non-zombie related things would you encounter if the entire world shut off access to the Americas?

During the War of 1812 the British navy had a blockade against New Orleans for almost two years. Jean Lafitte and his pirates would run the blockade and bring essential supplies up thru the bayous to the city. I could see a modern day "Somali-pirate" type situation going on in that part of the Gulf of Mexico.

Also, a lot of the towns between Baton Rouge,LA and Pensacola,Fl have their own Mardi Gras/Carnival parades.....So a zombie parade with brass bands and baton twirlers would definitely be different.

[Tater Raider]

All I can help with is a handy guide to decomposition.

You say the nicest things...

[Tendrax]

Also, his background will likely determine the name for any pets. I'd say Fay-doh-doh for the cochroach, as a nod to the unique Cajun language.

Thanks. Actually, the one with a pet roach (sadly) isn't even from LA. He's from Memphis, TN, but he got stuck in Jackson, MS around the time the outbreak got big. No idea what I'm doing with his voice.

This gonna sound kind of stupid, but is he black or white? White Memphis people have a southern drawl, but not too strong. Black Memphis people talk like rappers, with a bit of southern slang tossed in, "Ya'll", "fixin' (to)", etc. At least, that's what i experienced 6-7 years ago when I lived there.

Memphis was a surprisingly segregated area. Both by race and income level.

[TaterTot_137]

This gonna sound kind of stupid, but is he black or white?

He's caucasian, blonde even.

[Tendrax]

Then yeah, definitely a bit of southern drawl, lots of sirs and ma'am, to everyone, not just elders/positions of power.

[RickOShea]

I already told Tot not to be offended if I call her "Ma'am" in the chat thread (Even though I'm twice her age).

[Doctorr Fabulous]

It's either Ma'am or Miss, little missy when aggravated or amused.

[TaterTot_137]

THIS JUST IN!

TaterTot is looking for zombie hunters to appear in a panel of Operation: Decomp. The first three people to responde to this will receive a cameo.
Dad, you're not allowed to submit anything.

To respond to this post, quote only the following:
Happy hunting!

[ForgeCorvus]

Happy hunting!

Was that what you wanted ?

[Tendrax]

THIS JUST IN!

TaterTot is looking for zombie hunters to appear in a panel of Operation: Decomp. The first three people to responde to this will receive a cameo.
Dad, you're not allowed to submit anything.

To respond to this post, quote only the following:
Happy hunting!

You want pics or what? Lol.