Thursday, July 31, 2008

Let's All Hear It for J. K. Rowling! Hooray!

It's Ms. Rowling's 43th birthday today! And thank you for all the Daria/Harry Potter crossovers! (Here are a few to click on: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7—right, right, that's enough of that.)

I plan to reuse this image for Halloween. Stay tuned.

Oh, and today is also Hawaiian Flag Day. Celebrate as you see fit. Holiday Island High has some mighty strange kids going there.







LATE ADD: Notice that Daria the Witch still wears her boots.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

It May Not Be Art, But It's Kinky and I Like It


One hundred ten years ago, the famous sculptor Henry Moore (no relation) was born. Brittany Taylor gives us a vague idea of what Mr. Moore's creations were like. Mmm, better just use Google to see what they were really like.

Baltimore, Maryland (the city of which Lawndale is often assumed to be a suburb) was founded 279 years ago today. And, with a tip of the cap to Willow and Coyote's little VW Beetle, the last "old style" Bug was produced in Mexico today, five years ago. What a strange history that car had!


FF.net
  • Duck and Cover, by Smileyfax (Part 4): "Jane, what did you use to paint this with?" Daria asked. [WARNING! YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW!]
  • Manse Griffin, by Smileyfax (Part 1): Quinn noticed some words affixed to the top of the gate. "Manse Griffin," she read aloud. "What's Manse?" [Great start of a new story, but please finish a couple of the unfinished ones! I beg you! WE beg you!—TAG]

PPMB
  • Avenging, by LSauchelli (Part 15): "If we can neutralize whatever the Zebesians are using to prevent us from flashbacking, you can save the day."
  • Legion of Lawndale Heroes 13.2: Angel of the Morning, by Brother Grimace: Tom suddenly found himself on the ground, spitting out sand and nursing the left side of his face as Jane winced, her left hand stinging from the force of the slap she had instinctively dished out.
  • Stacy Rowe, Seeker (Part II), by jtranser (continued): A few notes about the pending conquest of the world by the Illuminati Squirrels.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

The Fairy-Tale Wedding with the Horror-Story Ending

Daria's close personal friends, Beavis and Butt-head, are with us to help remember that special day 27 years ago right now, when I was poking through the bookshelves in a small U.S. Army store at Sullivan Barracks, in Mannheim, West Germany, and I looked up and saw the the color TV in one corner of the ceiling was showing Lady Diana and Prince Charles getting married just across the English Channel. Huh, I thought, then went back to looking at the books. I bought an SF novel by Gregory Benford, Timescape, which I enjoyed very much and highly recommend to everyone. I paid no further attention to the wedding.

But wasn't it just grand?


More later.

Happy 50th Birthday, NASA!

Yes, space fans, today is the 50th birthday of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Funny to think that I am older than NASA is.

Some great new art is in. MDetector5 offers two (1, 2) "Attempted Helen Drawings," which I think make her look years younger, twenty-ish or so. Post what you think of them on PPMB.

Also, we have hysterical short comic by Breitasparrow called, "Proper Punishment." I must admit this is a side of Daria I have never seen before. Bizarre. You gotta see it.

Wouter wants to revive the old "Cartoon Girls who are like Daria" thread on PPMB. I cannot find the older thread, but when I do I will post its link.

Legendeld has posted again to Legendeld's Rantings. Now, everyone make him post some more.

A teaser is available on PPMB on Legion of Lawndale Heroes, chapter 13.2, from Brother Grimace. It's called "Angel of the Morning." Enjoy away.


PPMB

Moar sune.

(Remember which episode the above screencap came from?)

Monday, July 28, 2008

Stacy O!


This is one of those alter egos that won't make sense to anyone under the age of 50. Stacy Rowe is imitating Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, whose birthday was 79 years ago today. I remember what Jackie Kennedy looked like from newspaper pictures I saw of her as a child. She's holding a rose bush and wearing her best pink suit.

Unfortunately, that is exactly the same suit Mrs. Kennedy was wearing when she and JFK arrived in Dallas on November 22, 1963. And upon her arrival in Dallas, Mrs. Kennedy was given red roses. Was the artist making a point here? If so, what was the point? Really creepy pic, if you ask me.

What else Daria-ish happened today in history. . . . Bermuda, visited by Sandi Griffin during Is It Fall Yet?, was settled 399 years ago by English folk who were blown off-course while heading for Virginia. I had an idea for a story about Sandi getting lost in the Bermuda Triangle, but never finished it. Dang.

Today is the birthday of Jim Davis, the cartoonist who created Garfield. Garfield is mentioned in various fanfics as a cartoon in the Lawndale newspaper. There was a crossover, too, in which Daria had Garfield as a pet, but I cannot find it now.

LATE ADD: Brother Grimace has added a DariaWiki page about . . . Daria's glasses. Not a bad idea.

Speed Kills

Nine years ago today, "Speedtrapped" first appeared on MTV. We've already addressed Daria's murderous impulses. What else is there to cover?

I'll add more later. What do you think was controversial about this episode, aside from the desert and Daria trying to kill someone?

Sunday, July 27, 2008

This Just In . . . Where Are the Parents?

I ask only because today is National Parents' Day in the U.S. No, really. Fourth Sunday every July. No, you don't get a present for it. No cake, either. It just is. I have no idea who thought it up. Weird. Whatever.


Here's a tidbit from an old MTV Daria site. Enjoy.

The Belly-Button Show!

"Pierce Me" was a great episode. We learn that Daria is book smart but will do anything to get her man, even have her belly button pierced because her man thought it would look "hot." Why was her kiss with Tom Sloane such a surprise?

Let's look at the highlights.
  1. When is Jane Lane's birthday? I WANNA KNOW, DAMN IT!
  2. Why does Quinn call Daria a "pain wimp"? Does Quinn have secret powers of mind to overcome pain? Apparently so. Could she be a superhero?
  3. The phone call from Trent is hysterical, one of the great extended comic scenes of all time. I adore it.
  4. Daria has the worst romantic fantasies I've ever heard of. Bad for her, I mean, but great for the rest of us. ("Silly, Little Self-Deluded Girl. Why Would a Cool Guy Like Me Ever Write a Song About You?") No self-confidence at all where romance is concerned.
  5. Jake's advice to Trent, thinking he was Quinn's date: too funny! ("Gee, I'm sorry, young man, but you know how girls can be. Just give her some time, son. Give her some time.")
  6. "Mystik Spiral, but we're thinking of changing the name." First time Trent says that?
  7. "Anything for Jane." A great story title. Too bad Daria didn't really mean it.
  8. "Quinn, I need my coffee." Helen, the caffeine freak. I love it.
  9. "And I can't set foot in a bookstore. Don't ask me why, Daria. I just don't want to talk about it." This line from Trent spawned several fanfics (click here: 1, 2, 3).
  10. What if Daria did buy and wear that retro outfit later, the one she wears in her alter ego (see image)? What if she got it to look hot for Trent? What if she caught someone else instead? What would her life be like if she decided to dress like that all the time?
  11. "That's not 'uvula.'" Another winning line! What if instead of her navel Daria had—um, forget it. One AU I'm not going to visit.
  12. "Daria, it would look really hot." Someone wrote a fanfic in which Trent's use of this line leads Daria into a life of complete sexual degradation. That was awesome! Where is that fic?
  13. Monique's a nice girl. Too bad early 'shippers made her such an evil person when she's sweet. Still wonder about the Harpies. So much fanfic potential.
  14. Eric is buying his niece a dress? Cool. Jasmine already knows he's a sucker, so she's going to soak him. I used her in a fanfic as a friend of Veronica in an AU.
  15. "Oh my God, what have I done?" Both Daria and Helen say this line. Nice touch.
  16. Enter the Talking Toilet. Big fun. And it turned into an award, too!
  17. "Boy, Daria, you have the weirdest sex dreams." Another winner!
  18. Tiffany's rental "mom." You gotta wonder about that.
  19. Would the world have been any different if Quinn and Helen had won the catwalk? No. Same old Helen-Linda rivalry. The archery thing in "Fair Enough" was cool, though.
  20. "Little sister, little sister, you came into my life like a twister. What can I get you that you haven't taken?" Implies that Jane takes whatever she wants around the house. Figures.
  21. The whole bit with Quinn at the end, totally great, comedy at its best AGAIN! ("She was pierced! Pierced, I tell you! Oh, the humanity!")
Good job, MTV people! Good job.

LATE ADD: Richard Lobinske did a nice AU of this episode: "Ring of Champions."

ANOTHER LATE ADD: WacoKid was the one responsible for the great ficlet jumping off from #12. His ficlet is in this thread on PPMB, on page 2, entry for June 29, 2005. WacoKid, you rule.

Jane's Birthday Is...


. . . unknown. We actually don't know Jane's birthday date, but the episode about it was aired on MTV ten years ago today: "Pierce Me." Lots of shippery goodness for everyone, and Daria's belly button gets a temporary ornament.

Today's date was mentioned in a fanfic, it being when Daria saw Mack fly off to the moon. Not what she had expected to see as she walked home that night.

More soon.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

A Curious Footnote

In an odd coincidence, Kara Wild was busy this moment nine years ago writing a fanfic entitled, "None in the Family, Part Two: Unmasked." In this story, Jake makes a telephone call while cooking. His phone message: "Is this 911?! Emergency! I think I just set my house on *fire*!!" (He later claims he faked the call, but it is likely he didn't and managed to put the fire out.) One year later, "Fire!" comes out on MTV. Well, true, Jake had set things in the kitchen on fire before, so I don't believe anyone at MTV borrowed the idea. It's just one of those weird things.

But maybe there was something cosmic about this co-inky-dink. The burned-out Miller, in Repo Man, said it best: "A lot o' people don't realize what's really going on. They view life as a bunch o' unconnected incidents 'n things. They don't realize that there's this, like, lattice o' coincidence that lays on top o' everything. Give you an example; show you what I mean: suppose you're thinkin' about a plate o' shrimp. Suddenly someone'll say, like, plate, or shrimp, or plate o' shrimp out of the blue, no explanation. No point in lookin' for one, either. It's all part of a cosmic unconciousness." Clear as water. More later.

LATE ADD: The Daria Fan Club (892 members now) has resolved its image-server problem! Lookin' good!


FF.net (a.k.a. "The Most Excellent Smileyfax Show!")
  • Duck and Cover, by Smileyfax (Part 3): "Toga party!"
  • Mart of the Dead, by Smileyfax (Part 3): "And the big news is that just before Atlanta went down, the CDC reported that the infected were actually the walking dead."
  • The Young Switcheroo, by Smileyfax (Part 4): Daria put her hands on Jane's shoulders. "Jane, I think we might be long-lost sisters."

Fired Up

Eight years ago today, the episode "Fire!" premiered on MTV. Once again, an unlikely event changes history in the mainstream Dariaverse. Is it possible that Jake could be so stupid as to have caused a house fire in this manner? Did the Morgendorffers have no fire extinguisher? Why is black smoke rising from only one tiny portion of the flames covering the kitchen island, like a volcano?

The AU potential of this tale is considerable. As Daria herself says, when informed that the family will not be staying at the Dutchman Inn: "I can never forget that giant clog and what might have been." Some possibilities:
  1. Jake doesn't cause the fire (or puts out the fire himself), so Daria doesn't go to Jane's house and meet Tom up close.
  2. The fire injures or kills one or more of the Morgendorffers, or else the house is completely lost and the Morgendorffers must move.
  3. Helen throws Jake out of the house for being such an idiot. They separate. Helen has more time to chat with Eric when he calls at 1 a.m.
  4. The Morgendorffers do stay at the Dutchman Inn. Quinn moves out and stays with the Fashion Club. Daria doesn't meet Tom. Something else weird happens.
  5. Bobby Stuart gets away with stealing Le Grand Hotel funds to impress Quinn. She goes out with him. He turns out to be either good (but untrustworthy) or bad.
  6. Jane and Tom break up before Daria enters the picture.
  7. Daria discovers something unusual/illegal/dangerous that Penny left behind in her old bedroom.
  8. Trent convinces Daria that hanging around Tom is a bad idea. She leaves of her own accord. (Not sure this would change anything later, though, unless it delays the looming Jane/Tom breakup.)

Interesting aspects of this episode:
  1. Sandi Griffin's instinct for picking out untrustworthy dating partners is very good. She was suspicious of Bobby almost from the start, though part of that might have been jealousy. (She was the only member of the Fashion Club who did not have staff fuss over her at the hotel.) Perhaps it is because Sandi is so accustomed to being underhanded that she is able to recognize the same elements in other people.
  2. Jane's instinct for knowing when someone is about to betray her is also very good. She saw it coming from a mile away.

This episode pretty well telegraphs what was coming in "Dye! Dye! My Darling." More later.

LATE ADD: I've tried to flesh out the DariaWiki page for "Fire!" If anyone has other bits to add to it, please feel free (especially if I put in something that was wrong).

ANOTHER LATE ADD: Richard Lobinske has updated the list of Daria fan art! Hooray! (PPMB & SFMB)

Friday, July 25, 2008

The Teenager Who Changed the World


Being a fan of history, I've been especially fascinated by the few times that individuals have had a disproportionate impact on world events. One of those people was a 19-year-old teen who managed to make things a lot worse for us all, born just 114 years ago today. His story forms the basis for a Daria fanfic.

Today is also the anniversary day when a passenger liner with an unusual name collided with another ship and sank. The ship's name became part of the title of Part Four in this story.

Thirty years ago today, a happier event took place: the birth of the first "test-tube" baby. She (and recent genetic research involving Dolly the Sheep) inspired a fanfic, too: this one.

DariaWiki's newest page is about a squirrel, but not a normal squirrel. Thanks, BG. NO! WAIT! The latest article is about another squirrel, also abby-normal. Still BG's fault, however. The latter article is also the 1,900th one on DariaWiki!

Just a reminder: If you lack exciting in-canon villains to go with your next Daria fanfic, look no further than this thread, from here on.

And a quick note: Jim Vitale is BACK!


FF.net
  • Duck and Cover, by Smileyfax (Part 2): "I'd like to see those zombie bastards try to get us now!"
  • The Young Switcheroo, by Smileyfax (Part 3): The story is better than excellent, but what I want to know is, how can this guy write so much good stuff all at the same time? Check it out.

PPMB

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Leaning to the Left Again?

This marks the 88th anniversary of the birth of Bella Abzug, the famous legal and political activist of progressive turn, whom Daria is imitating at left in an MTV alter ego. More evidence of MTV's liberal bent? Probably, but more shocking is this: Daria is smiling!

Today is also National Tequila Day (a lot of fanfics mention tequila), the birthday of Amelia Earhart, and the 58th anniversary of the day the first rocket was launched from what would become the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Celebrate as you see fit, but not while driving.

Richard Lobinske, João Paulo Costa, and Nighthawk have done great work recently on DariaWiki. Thanks!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Mack's Poseidon Adventure

Mack, for some reason, was depicted as the Roman god Neptune (or the Greek god Poseidon) on one of the alter egos from Daria. As it so happens, today was the beginning of the Roman festival called Neptunalia, which celebrated the god of the sea. (More on Neptunalia here.)

In keeping with our oceanic theme, this date appeared in a Daria serial called "A Cruise Gone Wrong." Unfortunately, we have only the first part of the tale to go by. Where's the rest? Darn authors.

PPMB moderator Quiverwing, in her blog Quiverwing's Corner, has posted an interesting observation about our fandom. The observation has been made before, but not with evidence such as she provides. What do you think of it? Post your responses in her blog (or this one, as you wish).

Two nice new fan artworks are up: Concept Jane, by ioxmo, and Jen of 6teen as Daria, by Doggieboy's son.

Looking for interesting ficlets to stir your imagination? Look below.

FF.net
  • Daria: The Two Equals, by MrPowerpuff (Part 4): “I believe I’ve got a certain . . . surprise for you.”
  • Duck and Cover, by Smileyfax (Part 1): "Sure, Daria. Let me scrape that into the dust so that the archaeologists will know our last words."

PPMB
  • Unnamed ficlet, Iron Chef: Evil Jane, by NightGoblyn (continued): A girl who will chew gum will smoke, a girl who will smoke will drink, and a girl who will drink . . . why, everyone knows what a girl like that will do!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Rats!

In addition to everything else, today is Ratcatcher's Day, which honors exterminators. Really. I got that off Wikipedia. Try to imagine what kind of teen Ratcatcher's Day is like at Holiday Island High. (Ew!) There's some very interesting background on this day and how it is connected to the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, which turns out to be majorly eerie.

Anyone got any good fanfic ideas about a Daria character getting a job as an exterminator? Or as a rat?


FF.net
  • The Young Switcheroo, by Smileyfax (Part 2): Just when you think the AUs can't get any weirder, this tale comes along. Dig in and prepare to smile a lot. Thanks, Smileyfax.

"Hi. We're Mystik Funkenstein."


"Trent and Jesse do Bootsy Collins and George Clinton," says the MTV alter-ego website, and this is appropriate considering that George Clinton was born this day only 67 years ago. Long live the funk!

Today is also Pi Approximation Day, so if you are mathematically inclined you can go for it. Is there a teen on Holiday Island with this name?

More soon. Good to have you here.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Monkey Business


Teacher John Scopes was convicted of teaching evolution on this date 83 years ago. Jeffy, Joey, and Jamie are here with us to commemorate that historic backward step. Darwin, by the way, got mentioned in Daria.

"Darwin's the monkey guy, right? I like monkeys."

—Kevin Thompson, "The Old and the Beautiful"


* * *

Also, Ernest Hemingway was born this date 109 years ago. He, too, got mentioned in Daria.

"Now remember, your Hemingway essays are due in one week. And this time, Stacy, it's Ernest, not Mariel."

—Mr. O'Neill, "Daria Dance Party"

* * *

Fortress CINCGREEN

PPMB

SFMB
  • DARIA Takes a Holiday! by Gum Wars (COMPLETE!): Trent slowly replied, "Come on DARIA, lets all take a holiday."

Mental in the Morning


"The Misery Chick" made its debut eleven years ago today, and "Jake of Hearts" nine years ago today. A lot has recently been added to the description of Tommy Sherman on DariaWiki of late, so you can look that up for your daily dose of misery.

"Jake of Hearts" is one of those third-season episodes that had a big impact on fanfiction set in the future (i.e., after Is It College Yet?), namely in introducing Jake's Final Heart Attack or Jake's Quadruple Bypass. What else did "Jake of Hearts" give us?
  1. Ruth Morgendorffer
  2. Bing
  3. Spatula Man
  4. Screaming puppets in a fiery plane crash
  5. Bomb-sniffing dogs at Lawndale High
  6. Taco Tuesday
  7. Cedars of Lawndale ER
  8. Bats disguised as flying squirrels
  9. Doctor Quinn, Medicine Woman
  10. Z-93's raunch-a-riffic list of 101 words for sex
  11. Thrombocytopenic Complications After Stent Placement Post-Coronary Artery Angioplasty
  12. Jake telling Daria he think she will be in charge of the family after his death
  13. Upchuck and the dark underbelly of passion ("Upchuck? Eww...")
  14. Mental in the Morning
  15. Mad Dog Morgendorffer and his razor phobia
  16. Heart Smart lima-bean cupcakes
  17. Door number three in the Morgendorffer genetic code
  18. Jake and Daria bonding at last
  19. Garden gnomes
Not bad for a third-season episode. Not bad at all.

ART! Got some new Jane Lane art from newcomer Jim North: Sharpgluer. Thanks, man! That rules!

MORE ART! Jim North has also produced . . . IT'S ART! (another magnificent Jane creation!)

Sunday, July 20, 2008

See Jane Run! Go, Jane, Go!

"See Jane Run" popped into existence ten years ago today on MTV. This was the first Jane-centric Daria story, if memory has not failed me. Too bad there weren't more of them. Daria is so borrrrring.

One of my favorite moments in the episode is when Jane first spies Evan. The expression on her face (at left) is priceless.

Today is also an important day in one recent fanfic, and the date turns out to be a lifesaver. Why? Check it out.

BREAKING NEWS! Follow the thrills and excitement of the first-ever WONDERFEST DARIACON, taking place this very weekend!

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Even the Angels Love Quinn


"Groped by an Angel" appeared for the first time eight years ago on MTV. This was the closest the Daria series came to investigating religious belief among the characters, and we learned Daria was agnostic and Quinn believed in angels, but angels that did things for her like her regular boyfriends. (For an interesting fanfic possibility, see here.)

"Groped" inspired several fanfics, most notably "Guardian" and "An Angel Named Mary Sue." It also inspired a section of "Illusions" (in the Veronica universe).

This episode is also infamous for being the only Daria episode, and possibly the only cartoon ever, to include the four-letter "t-word," which Steve Taylor uses on his son Brian for kicking the tires on an expensive car. Isn't that special!

BTW, if anyone wants to spruce up the bare-bones DariaWiki page on this episode, please do.

Today, 19 years from now, also marks the beginning of Daria and Jane's adventures in the fanfic "Drive."

More soon. Yo, peace out, my dogs!

Friday, July 18, 2008

A Real Fireball

A bit of space news, to start the day: John H. Glenn, Jr., the former Senator, astronaut, and USMC fighter pilot, gets mentioned a few times in Daria fanfic (here and here) and was previously mentioned in this blog as well. Today is his 87th birthday. I am pleased to say that I watched him go into space both times! (On TV.)

One more day until the Wonderfest Dariacon takes place, with Richard Lobinske and myself appearing incognito in the crowd. Well, Richard's showing some models, so I'll be incognito.

Dramatic news to come, if there is any to report.

LATE ADD: S.C. has posted another masterwork on PPMB ("A Death in the Family"). Get a tissue box ready before you look at it. It is one of his best works, and that is saying something, but it will tear out your heart.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Getting into the Spirit of Things


"Occasionally I think about doing something to change my situation," wrote Daria in The Daria Diaries, "but where am I going to get hold of a Stealth bomber?"

Today is the 19th anniversary of the first flight of the B-2 Spirit bomber, a.k.a. the stealth bomber, and dammit, they are still not available for sale at gun shows. And yes, the F-117 was also a "stealth bomber," but it is nowhere as cool as the B-2, so out it goes with yesterday's trash. A B-2 bomber appears in this Daria story, and Amy Barksdale gets her own stealth jet in this tale.

More Daria news will follow as soon as someone comes up with something I can print.


FF.net
  • A Little Problem, by Smileyfax (Part 3): "Did she have to be bigger than me?"
  • The Young Switcheroo, by Smileyfax (Part 1): This is an AU I'd never imagined possible, yet here it is. Go with it, and enjoy.

PPMB
  • Crime and Idiocy, by Demi_Cat (COMPLETE!): A tragic tale of three stalkers who wanted only to have a date with Quinn.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Random Filler Stuff

The number of fans on the Daria Fan Club is up to 880, but the problem with the image server has not yet been fixed. The site is still fully functional.

Of the 1,894 articles on DariaWiki, the last two articles that were worked on were about Cassandra (seen at left in class at Highland High, in the Beavis and Butt-head episodes) and Tommy Sherman. I have a pile of notes to add about Tommy in the next few days. He's a very interesting character in many respects, and his death is interesting (and weird) as well.

Why isn't Cassandra in more fanfics? Weird.

On PPMB, the Mighty Deceleraptor has proposed a new Iron Chef: "Write a fanfic, ficlet, tome, etc., about any of the Daria characters on a trip to another country. It must be a country you don't already live in. Here's the inspiration: http://outpost-daria.com/art_daria_world.html. Extra points if you have the character 'in mufti,' as in the 'photos.' Just have fun and be creative."

thatLONERchick has gone and written a great new story again, entirely by accident, in the thread that is supposed to contain BAD stories. This is happening entirely too often. Can no one tell the difference between good fanfic and bad? Anyway, you have to read it.

More suggestions for potential villainous encounters in Daria fanfic have been added to the PPMB thread on Irredeemable Daria Characters. True, these additions are from Beavis and Butt-head, but Daria was there, too, right? They should count. Dervish used Dallas Grimes in "Something to Shoot For." If she can do it, you can too.

FF.net
  • Mart of the Dead, by Smileyfax (Part 2): It looks like Andrea and Upchuck will have to repopulate Earth after the zombie virus kills everyone else. Where the hell are those Ringbearers when you need them?

Science Runs Amok


Three different science-based events occurred today in history, each of which had a marked effect on one of my science-fiction Daria fanfics. Weird how that came about.

Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 began to impact Jupiter on this day 14 years ago. This led to the events detailed in "And I on the Opposite Shore Will Be."

Apollo 11 began its journey moonward this very day 39 years ago. "Every Hour Saved from That Eternal Silence" came about as a result.

And atomic fire lit the earth for the first time ever 63 years ago today, with the Trinity nuclear test in New Mexico. This became the de facto birthday of the Atomic Age, and thus the "anti-holiday" of the Holiday Island High character Trinity, from "A Hard Days' Night."

More to come as the day rolls along. Happy Birthday, Trinity!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Glory Hallelujah! Jane Lane Tells All!

YES! "The Autobiography of Jane Lane, Parte the Seconde" has just hit the blogstands! After an absence of almost 85,000 minutes, Jane has decided to post more about her life before and after meeting the Misery Chick. Exploding breast implants! Radiation! Gross stuff! Click and enjoy!!!

The picture and text here, BTW, are from the MTV Daria site from about 11 years ago.

Morinnaminut.

Minutsup.

Looking for a fun cruise? Look no further than DariaWiki.

New art: Janie's got a gun, by ioxmo. This picture is exactly what it sounds like. Nice. Oddly related by topic to the Doggieboy story below. Commentary can go here.

Also, durgarox has done an amusing and 'shippery drawing called Hey, Daria... The facial expressions are priceless.

Hershey-chan has completed a very nice rendering of Upchuck and Andrea at the prom. The Chuckster has a babe!


PPMB

This Day in History: DARIA MEETS CORNHOLIO!

Today is an extra-special anniversary! Only 14 years ago today, Beavis first turned into the Great Cornholio after eating too much sugar. Daria was on hand to witness the event. Her reaction: "Get out of here, Beavis." This Beavis and Butt-head episode was, of course, "The Great Cornholio." Did this meeting have any lasting effect on Daria and company? You be the judge.

Appropriately, today is also Confuflux, a Discordian holyday. Yeah, I don't know what it is either, but it sounds about right for Cornholio's special day. Odd how that worked out so well.

More thrills to come!


SPECIAL NOTE: If you want to watch "The Great Cornholio," click here and go to the third video. Thank you, MTV!

Monday, July 14, 2008

Empty Fridge, Empty Mom


Two episodes premiered on this date. "The Teachings of Don Jake" was first shown on MTV eleven years ago, in Daria's first season, and "Lane Miserables" appeared two years later in the third season. The former episode is where we learn that Daria saves her entire family from a horrible fate, but no one says a word of thanks to her. The latter episode reveals that Jane and Trent have the crappiest family in existence. How it worked out that Jane wasn't taken away by child protective services, we'll never know. Cartoon people live charmed lives, I suppose.

Also, we know for a fact that eating "glitter berries" allows you to see spirit animals, because Jake's reacted in a completely realistic fashion when he tried to tell it about his childhood: it ran away. If that's not realistic, I don't know what is.

A curious note: Today is also Bastille Day, and a connection has been postulated between the airing of "Lane Miserables" and that holiday. Verrry interesting. As a side note, Quinn learned a lot about Bastille Day from David in Is It Fall Yet?

According to the Falling Into College series, today is Cancerian Helen Morgendorffer's birthday! Happy Fif- . . . Thirty-Ninth Birthday to you!

The American artist James McNeill Whistler was born 174 years ago today. Jane Lane has an alter ego in which she appears in one of Whistler's portraits, which can be seen somewhere on this page. Perhaps you know which one it is.

The latest page (#1,891) in DariaWiki, thanks to Richard Lobinske, is here (the story "Broken Star"). NO! WAIT! It's here ("Battle of Cacotin Mountain"). NO NO NO!!! It's HERE!

A minor server problem with the Daria Fan Club has led to missing images on the website, but all will be fixed soon, we are told.


Lawndale Online

PPMB
  • Falling Into College 63: Broken Star, by Richard Lobinske (COMPLETE!): Jeff learns a lesson about Daria, Daria learns a lesson about Jeff, and Karen gets a surprise in a bag from Amy.
  • New Life, by legendeld (Part 10): "I don’t remember your butt being this big.” Stacy said playfully.
  • While the Bat's Away..., by echopapa (Part 1): A Daria/DC crossover, with Catwoman on the prowl and her prey in Lawndale!

SFMB

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Fair Enough For Ya?

The world premiere of "Fair Enough" was ten years ago today. Interesting that Andrea later used Upchuck in the same jester outfit in her "Gothic Nights" comic in The Daria Database.

What makes "Fair Enough" really interesting is the collapse of the library roof at the start, as Daria, Brittany, and Kevin could have been seriously injured or killed as a result. (This happens in at least one AU fanfic.) Ms. Li's looting of school funds for paranoid projects is also intriguing, as is Linda Griffin's archery skill (she hits the target under stress, but Helen doesn't). Linda's got focus and drive, for sure. Could she be an archery superhero in disguise? Or an assassin? With ebola arrowheads?

What did you like or dislike in particular about this episode? What oddities caught your attention?

Brother Grimace started a page on "Casa Lane" on DariaWiki, and I was moved to add to it. I think separate webpages on Jane's room and Trent's room are called for.

Speaking of DariaWiki, Richard Lobinske is heroically correcting errors and clarifying links. I note with some dismay that many of the errors he's fixing are mine, and I humbly apologize and promise to find some other kind of error to add to DariaWiki in the future, not the same old ones. Richard has created the most recent of the 1,884 or so pages in the 'Wiki: Fuzzy Wuzzy Wee Bits.

Legendeld's Rantings (a blog by the same author) has been added to the recommended/active list at left. Sorry I didn't do this before, I miss a lot by being me. I've added the Beavis and Butt-head tales at FF.net, too, because many of them feature Daria in her Highland years.

Alas, however, I removed the Dariacon Wiki link, as it no longer seems to work.

FF.net

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Aisle of You


"Mart of Darkness" (the title taken from Heart of Darkness) premiered on MTV just eight years ago today. It is also worth pointing out that Daria appeared on the cover of TV Guide eleven years ago today, and on a surfboard too (seen here). Is there nothing this cartoon character cannot do? Other than get back on the air, I mean.

Breitasparrow has created a "quick manip" on PPMB, and it's pretty funny. Check it out.


FF.net
  • Box to the Future, by Smileyfax (COMPLETE!): Somewhere in there is the real ending, but every bit of it is to die for. Thank you, Smileyfax!
  • LATE ADD: Mart of the Dead, by Smileyfax (Part 1): It appears that Andrea might become the last woman in Lawndale, and the last man in Lawndale might be . . . oh, God. (Heh heh heh heh.)
  • The Quiet Ones, by Smileyfax (COMPLETE!): A new (and better!) ending for "Speedtrapped."

PPMB
  • Calling Calliope, by Dennis (Part 2): Tiffany knew Sandi was much more intelligent than she was, but she also knew the difference between intelligence and smarts, and in smarts, she beat Sandi hands down.
  • Falling Into College 63: Broken Star, by Richard Lobinske (Part 7): Corporal Adler gets some help from on high. WAY up high.
  • Stacy Rowe, Seeker (Part II), by jtranser (continued): Brittany and Kevin, together again (but not for long).

Friday, July 11, 2008

The Night They Drove Old Outpost Down


Five-plus decades ago today, I was born. Forget that part.

Eight years ago today, out of a clear blue sky, Outpost Daria was shut down for a brief period in an event now called "The (Non-)Foxing of Daria." That was a weird, weird time. Congratulations to Martin J. Pollard for his perseverance in seeing the struggle through to a good end.

Ten years ago this month, Seventeen Magazine ran a one-page article about Daria Morgendorffer's room. Some clever quotes can be picked up from the story, at the link. (I liked the one about studying her sister's brain cells.) This story later inspired a Daria fanfic.

Four years from now, Daria Morgendorffer will arrive on the planet Nest to visit her children, according to Richard Lobinske's SF classic, "Alien Home." At right, Daria's adopted daughter Moonflower is shown playing in traffic during the family's vacation on Earth. We wish Daria and all her repellent curiously formed but fun-loving children the very best.

In the realm of Things to Come, check out this blog note from a highly familiar someone-or-other. Nothing Daria-ish on that blog yet, though we can always hope.


Active Minor Message Boards *
* Contain messages posted since May 1, 2008. Feel free to contribute your own opinions, please. Let them know they're not alone.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

The Royal "We"


Lady Jane Grey began her tragic nine-day rule as Queen of England and Ireland 455 years ago today. Her story became the inspiration for an unfinished Daria fanfic that turns on the observation that Jane Grey, it seems, looked and acted a lot like Daria Morgendorffer does today. And the fact that Daria, as a Scorpio, could have been born on Halloween. It is hoped that fate will allow the story to be finished one day before long.

Curious that MTV was kind enough to provide an alter ego of Daria as (I believe) Elizabeth I. It sure worked for me. The Tudor colors, by the way, were green and gold as shown here, like Daria's jacket and tee.



LATE ADD: Wondering how much a copy of the Sick Sad Life Planner computer software costs nowadays? I found one (used) on Amazon for $9.99, and one through Google for . . . ouch. (VERY LATE ADD: The absurd price has now been corrected.)

A Daria Web Browser???

A mere eight years ago, this announcement was made about a Daria-themed web browser (created by NeoPlanet) that could be downloaded from the Daria section of the MTV site. What was up with that? I've been seeing reports about this browser for some time (see here, here, here, here, and here), but of course they are all old news. Some links about it are given in the Daria Directory at left.

It appears that the NeoPlanet web browser can be downloaded from this old NeoPlanet website (click on "Downloads" at the top), but to be honest I've had enough trouble with my computer after catching that rootkit, and I'm less than excited about messing my system up any more than it already is. Does anyone know if this browser works for IE6 and Windows XP? Or is it too primitive to bother with unless you are a trufan and want Daria on everything? Inquiring minds want to know.

Now over 31,000 hits on DFB2! Woo hoo!

FF.net
  • Box to the Future, by Smileyfax (Part 8): "Dad, it's me. Daria. From the future." [I don't want this story to end, but it probably will soon. Damn.]
PPMB
  • Jane Lane: Ace Attorney, by Lorenzo Sauchelli (Part 1): Jane's a lawyer. Jane's boss is Jim Vitale. THE Jim Vitale. Jane must win her first big case . . . or else.
  • LLH Mini: The Artist as a Young Woman, by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): "The artist refuses to apologize for this work." [Pure Jane.]
  • Unnamed ficlet, by TheSecretSharer (COMPLETE!): OMG. This one was good!
  • Unnamed fragment, by Ranger Thorne (Part 1): And then there's the AU in which Veronica Morgendorffer (who has a Rita vibe going) has a little secret that only her big sister knows. (See artwork here. Leave art comments here.)
While surfing the 'net I noticed that Evan Farmer, the voice actor for Eric Schrecter, still has good work. So apparently does Karen Sztajnberg, an editor for Is It Fall Yet?

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

In Retrospect, This Was No Surprise

I was poking around on CafePress and thought to put the name "Quinn" into the search engine. This led me to discover that while "Daria" causes 90 different item designs to pop up when this name is put in, "Quinn" produces OVER TEN TIMES AS MANY DESIGNS, almost a thousand. Granted, some suppose that "Quinn" is a guy, and some are very rude, but many of the designs are pretty darn funny, such as this, this, this, this, this, this, this, and oh my goodness we cannot possibly forget this. (Or this.)

What some people will wear. Lord have mercy. Makes you wonder about Trentwear.

Fun in the Sun

What else happened this month in Daria fandom history? Other than a svelte Andrea showing up in bikinis in a fashion magazine (probably Waif).
Hazazel posted an interesting question on PPMB: What kind of parents would the teenage cast of Daria be as adults? If you have some ideas (or ficlets), post them soon.

Looking for Daria episodes, perchance? Look no further than here. Lots of new ones just added.

This blog is getting 120 hits per day so far this month (about right for a very small fandom) with about 93 unique visitors per day. The person who keeps clicking in the most often is probably me, as usual. Fans from Finland, Canada, and Germany are the ones outside the U.S. and "Unknown" that visit the most.

FF.net
  • Box to the Future, by Smileyfax (Part 7): This story is nothing but pure magical goodness with a monster cliffhanger at the end of part 7. AAAUUUUGGGHHH!!!! MOAR!1!!1111!!!!
  • Survivor Diet, by Smileyfax (Part 1): "Well, when everybody gets hungry enough, it'll be interesting to see who gets eaten first." Remember that quote from "Antisocial Climbers"? Start reading.
PPMB
  • The Cynic and The Defender, by Doggieboy (Part 6): "Penguins are always involved when it comes to TAG." Well, about damn time I got some respect around here!
  • Evil Jane (unnamed story), by Gregor Samsa (COMPLETE!): I caught severe brain damage from this story. It was worth it. (As Daria said: "Too much info. Way too much info.")
  • The Other Side of Time: The Nightmare Never Really Leaves, by The Sidhe (continued): “Well, who’d thunk it?” said Jane. “Selling camels to Arabia.”
  • Stacy Rowe, Seeker (Part II), by jtranser (continued): Jane tells Daria how she's been saving the world lately. Wish I could have gotten one of those mind-control things back when . . . um, never mind.
Party on most righteously, as always.