Monday, August 31, 2009

Helen's Favorite Holiday?

According to some strange websites I've visited, today is Love Litigating Lawyers Day. I am sure Helen Morgendorffer would agree it is high time lawyers got the lovin' they deserve, though it will have to be scheduled around the afternoon teleconference call to Newark.

Eight years ago today, the daily installment of one online comic strip, The New Adventures of Bobbin, had a cute legal tweak to it.

Just 112 years ago today, Thomas Edison patented a new invention: the movie projector (which eventually gave us Daria). Now, there was a good Tom!

At Fortress CINCGREEN, Roentgen discusses TV shows he's loved, including Daria, with a focus on trope-busting. Did Daria really break the mold, though? Who were the influential nerd girls before her? Was Daria still just "Hollywood ugly"? Yeah, we've argued all that before. Good times.

In the PPMB thread "(Yet more) Daria academic commentary," Operculum offers certain inflammatory comments about Daria made by an academic in a research article. Read the thread and post your thoughts!

The PPMB debate over "What Would Jane Do?" still rages on.

FF.net
  • D Is for Daria, by Fringeperson (Parts 4 and 5 and 6): “Ooh, the next one's addressed to me!” Jane said, holding the letter high above her head. Daria smirked. “Careful that it's not a bomb. Want me to read it, and then you'll respond?”
  • Pigskin Caduceus, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 6): Wednesday with Quinn was all business, although, honestly, I expected it to be. We dealt with bio, although Quinn did ask me a couple of questions about Mr. DiMartino’s history class. I wasn’t as helpful in that subject.
PPMB
  • Farewell, My Cornholio, by Peapotmaster (Part 2): At lunchtime, Daria ate a cheeseburger that she got from Burger World yesterday, because she didn’t want to eat what the lunch ladies had cooked up. She looked at one of the lunch ladies serving bad macaroni and cheese, with a cigarette still in her mouth. This made Daria sick to her stomach.
  • Reaped Out 2: Sickle Sad World, by Pinkminx (Part 3): "How can she be so drunk? You told me that Reapers didn't feel the effects of drugs or alcohol." Daria panted and released Georgia's dead weight as they reached the car.
  • The Runaway, by Aloysius (Part 3): “Melody,” he said again. “Talk to me, please.” The girl turned to look at him. Her expression was a mixture of anger and fear and her eyes glistened. “What do you want me to say?” she asked uncertainly.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Keep on Truckin', Indeed

Robert Crumb turns 66 today. He is perhaps the most famous of the underground comics artists of the 1960s and '70s, the one who gave us "Keep on Truckin'!" and Mr. Natural and girls with enormous butts and thighs. This rendering of Quinn in Crumb's style (an alter ego by MTV's artists) was surely done without her knowledge. Many of his drawings are online here.

The Moscow-Washington, D.C. hotline, a.k.a. The Red Phone, celebrates its 46th birthday today.

Writer Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, who at the age of 19 forever changed the face of fantasy, horror, and science fiction when she wrote Frankenstein, turns 212 today. (Read the book here.) Think about it: she was a teenager when she did this. Doesn't that just blow your mind?

In fact, speaking of Mary Shelley's most famous creation, we see a lot of Frankenstein (the book, the doctor, and the monster) in Daria fanfic and even in the show itself. The theme is ubiquitous. We have Frankenstein-related fan art, fanfic Halloween costumes and humorous character costumes, quotes in fanfiction, fanfic plot twists, Sick Sad World fodder on TV, movies on TV, Daria's reading material, someone else's reading material, and several fanfic scenes where the book is discussed in Mr. O'Neill's classes (here, here, here, and here). We even have an official MTV alter ego of Helen as the Bride of Frankenstein. Frankenstein has to be one of the most frequently referenced icons in the series.

Mary Shelley was one heck of a teenager, wasn't she?

FF.net
  • D Is for Daria, by Fringeperson (Part 3): “Wow, you weren't kidding,” Jane said, staring at the mail bag that had D for Detriment written in red type across it. It looked heavy, to say nothing of how full it was. One lump in the side even looked like a parcel rather than a regular letter.
  • Falling Into College Year 4: Two Intents, by Richard Lobinske (COMPLETE!): In the Channel 12 newsroom, Blythe Lincoln paused for a moment at the door to her producer's office. Being called into the office right after he'd handled a lengthy phone call was usually a sign that something was up and, in this case, Blythe had a good suspicion it was her latest story proposal. She took a deep breath and opened the door. "Yes, sir?"
  • Pigskin Caduceus, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 5): It was too late to do anything when I got back home on Saturday, so, on Sunday, I spent the entire day cleaning the house. I couldn’t remember the last time I did it; I never invited people over, so there was no need to make it look good. And my father certainly wouldn’t expend the effort.
  • Tales of the Ringbearers: With New Responsibility, by Richard Lobinske (COMPLETE!): Dressed in his flight gear and carrying a helmet with "Archangel" painted across the visor cover, Capt. Gerald Wright angrily marched away from the campus helipad toward the Curtis E. LeMay College of Military Studies.
PPMB
  • Extracurricular Activities, by thatLONERchick (COMPLETE!): Jodie Landon left yearbook with a smile on her face and a spring in her step. A few people called out to her as she walked, and she smiled at them or waved as she turned down a hallway. A moment later she came to a door. A pane of pebbled glass made up the top third. PRINCIPAL was written across in black paint and nothing more. Smiling a very different smile, Jodie knocked.
  • Iron Chef: Daria Is Raven's Apprentice, by Project Pegasus (continued): "My paper! No! I time-traveled back to the Globe Theater for that paper! Oh, the things I did for the Bard to get him to write a sonnet for me..."
  • Knockin' on Heaven's Gate, by HeirofNorton (Part 4): I certainly couldn't fault my friends for their near obsession over the stunning Miss Morgendorffer. Quinn was beautiful beyond compare. I reminisced then—as I assumed my now silent comrades were also doing—about the lovely girl.
  • Rainbow Disconnection, by Disco316 (Part 4): Quinn gathered around the ladies’ room mirrors, checking her makeup and applying touch-ups where necessary, along with her friends Sandi and Tiffany. “So I told him, ‘What difference does it make whether you order the buffalo wings or not? Even bringing them up has already cost you a second date!’ And then he says, ‘Oh, then I might as well get a double order!’ Can you believe some guys?”
  • Schrödinger’s Tiger, by TAG (COMPLETE!): “Explain it to me one more time,” said the tired detective, “but start over at the beginning, and speak slowly.”
  • Touchdown, by thatLONERchick (COMPLETE!): The bell rang, signaling the end of yet another intense history lesson. Students trickled out into the hall in small groups, laughing and talking and carrying on. Jodie Landon hung back by her boyfriend Michael Mackenzie's desk as he straightened papers from a spilled folder. Just as he had gotten things together, Anthony DeMartino, the graying, maniacal history teacher, called out to him.
  • Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Unwanted alien pets! Next, on Sick Sad World!), by NightGoblyn (COMPLETE FRAGMENT!): Charles leaned back, away from the piano, and let his fingertips lightly brush the keys. He was depressed, again. "All you do is sit in here and mope," Scarlett had said, rolling her eyes at him. "Sometimes I wonder if we're even related."
  • Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Unwanted alien pets! Next, on Sick Sad World!), by Wraith (COMPLETE FRAGMENTS!): Daria stood with her back against the wall in the large room. The only source of light was the door next to her, open on a small room where Jane was putting on her jacket. "Say, Jane. It seems you're eligible to be the Rose Bride. And then I'll obtain the Power of Dios and make the secret of eternity ours." "If you say so, Daria."
  • Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Unwanted alien pets! Next, on Sick Sad World!), by Wraith (COMPLETE FRAGMENT!): "No matter... how much I try... to be his friend,... no matter... how much I... think about him, his heart... has belonged to..." "What? Sports? Cars? Porn? Big Bird? What?!"

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Time to Reset Your Sundials

Today is Thoth 1, the beginning of the ancient Egyptian calendar. If anyone is still using it, adjust your sundial properly. If you use a different calendar, ignore this.

Today would have been Michael Jackson's 51st birthday. May he who changed music (and incidentally MTV) forever rest in peace.

An intriguing essay on the issue of whether Tom Sloane deserves to be called "evil" appeared this day nine years ago. If the issue interests you, give it a read. Ten years ago today in an alternate Dariaverse, Michael Mackenzie began a very unusual (and unusually dangerous) quest to save the world.

Want to make your computer use Daria WAV files instead of its usual programmed sounds, like when the system comes on, you empty the recycle bin, and so on? Read this Q&A session for starting information if you use Windows XP. The Media folder in the WINDOWS folder holds most or all of the usual WAV files used by the system—for example, Windows XP Startup, Windows XP Logon Sound, Windows XP Logoff Sound, and Windows XP Recycle (wadding paper noise). My system is to copy the desired replacement WAV file into the Media folder, rename the WAV file to be replaced (I never delete these, and the best thing to do is just add a suffix like "-old" to the end of the file's name, so you can find and identify it again if need be), then rename the replacement file with the old file's name.

It is very important to keep these replacement WAV files about the same length as the original ones, or shorter, to prevent them from running into one another during the computer's operation. I would not recommend using the full-length Daria theme music, for instance, but a short quote from one of the characters would be great. My suggestions for replacing the above four sounds: Windows XP Startup, Windows XP Logon Sound, Windows XP Logoff Sound, and Windows XP Recycle.

Has anyone tried this? Tell us about it if so.

FF.net
  • D Is for Daria, by Fringeperson (Part 2): "Aw, come on, D! If you didn't want to be famous then why did you agree to do the radio show in the first place?" "I was offered a very attractive bribe in the form of a regular pay cheque."
PPMB
  • Stacy Rowe, Seeker (Part III), by jtranser (continued): Back in the 19th century when archeology was a fad among German nobility, Daria's great-great grandfather, Prinz Klaus Friedrich, was one of the most avid explorer-collectors of the period....

Friday, August 28, 2009

It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fried)

Today is a special day in science. This is the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the greatest solar eruptions known in history. It was a butt-kicker. Fortunately the most complicated things we had at the time were telegraphs, but even those got knocked out. This is the event that spawned the Daylight shared multiverse setting. If the 1859 eruptions happened today, we'd have major problems. Daylight, of course, assumes it does happen today, but it's a lot worse. Heh heh.

Also today, Leo Tolstoy is 181 years old, and St. Augustine, Florida (the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in North America) is a mere 444 years old.

What Would Jane Do? smk asks this question and everyone awaits your answers on PPMB. The issue is, how would Jane have reacted if Daria had found a boyfriend on her own.

FF.net
  • Pigskin Caduceus, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 4): Although my incident with the Sudoku book was making me nervous, I pushed the thoughts out of my head to concentrate on Quinn. All of the following week, she was very quiet as of late. She wasn’t raising her hand in class, she wasn’t speaking to her friends at lunch, indeed, she seemed very distracted. But she seemed to be making a lot of sidelong glances at me.
PPMB
  • Legally Halloween, by Richard Lobinske (Part 2): "What do you need?" "Um, help dyeing my hair." "Could you repeat that? I thought you said something about dyeing your hair."
  • Reusably Complex, by Ajar (Part 1): “I have called this meeting to inform you of some budget changes that are effective immediately,” said Ms. Li to the assembled teachers. “Due to an overrun in security spending after that bomb scare we are cutting hours for all janitorial staff.”
  • The Runaway, by Aloysius (Part 2): “I sobered up faster than they expected,” Daria said. “They left two doors unlocked, because they thought I was still zonked out. I took off, hid, and made my way back to my hometown.”

Thursday, August 27, 2009

It's Daria in the Movies Day! Yay!

Today is the ninth anniversary of the MTV premiere of Is It Fall Yet? and the seventh anniversary of the DVD release of Is It College Yet? The infamous live Daria-Jane chat was also held online nine years ago today, a special event in which the show's characters (or so we were led to think) answered your questions, even the stupid ones. Those were the good old days, indeed.

Today is also the 126th anniversary of the loudest sound ever known in human history: not a Led Zeppelin concert, but the 1883 final eruption of Krakatoa, which blew an entire island to smithereens. Unfortunately it was an inhabited island. The lesson of Vesuvius is apparently a difficult one to learn: if you live near a mountain that makes noises, leave at once. You would think this was simple, but as recently as the eruption of Mount St. Helens, people still hadn't gotten it down correctly. Doesn't give you a lot of hope for the future, does it?

Don't know if I've mentioned this news story before, but there is a great little article on fictional TV shows that appear within TV shows. Sick, Sad World gets mentioned, but so do a lot of the other shows that would make great background bits in Daria fanfics. Does Upchuck watch Miss Sally's School Yard?

Still looking for Daria-themed wallpaper for your computer? Try the Daria Fan Club.

Brother Grimace, JPAGC, Disco316, Richard Lobinske, Doggieboy, and others have contributed enormous amounts of useful data to DariaWiki of late. Some of the pages new or modified include (in alphabetical order):
Enjoy!


FF.net
  • D Is for Daria, by Fringeperson (Part 1): Almost on cue, the doorbell rang. It was either Daria or Tom, and Jane was really hoping it was the former, she needed to get her head examined, and apart from Trent, Daria was the best person at it that she knew. Keeping her thrice-pierced ear pricked, she heard Trent loaf to the door and the hinges wail slightly as the barrier swung open to permit entry. “Oh, hey Tom. Janey's up in her room.”
  • Kisses and Dichotomies, by NoLogique (Part 1): Tom was fascinated by woman's makeup. Before Ruttheimer had thrown him into the basement and had tried to beat out the world from him, Tom would go to dive bars near the pier and see the pale faces of the cabaret ladies, clownish with their purple eyes and bright red lipstick.
  • Pigskin Caduceus, by HolyGrail2009 (Part 3): “Now, we’ve been introduced to two characters in Wuthering Heights: Heathcliff, and Cathy, his daughter-in-law. Who here can explain how the two of them are alike?” A few brains sitting in the front of their class raised their hands, but Mr. O’Neill looked towards the back of class, where all of us popular kids sat. “What about you, Jeffy?” he asked.
PPMB
  • The Awakening, by TAG (COMPLETE!): The lasagna that Daria’s mother often made for dinner had always had a metallic aftertaste, but it wasn’t until Daria was hunting for the salt very late one Friday night in July that she discovered another salt shaker in the top shelf of the cabinet behind the drinking glasses that no one ever used.
  • A Child's Book of Tom Sloane's Deaths, by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): [I won't spoil this. Just read it. ]
  • Daria's Not So Little Helper, by Greystar (COMPLETE!): "So, what should we do to O'Neil today, amiga?" Jane asked. "Convince him that Michael Myers is just the product of a miss-spent youth?"
  • Farewell, My Cornholio, by Peapotmaster (Part 1): “I just wanted to tell you cretins that next week will be my last day here in Highland High,” said Daria. “Are you going to score?” Beavis asked. “No, buttmunch, Daria’s pregnant,” corrected Butt-Head.
  • Rolling the Dice, by Ajar (Part 4): Jane continued with a spot check. “The door flies open revealing what at first seems like a fairly average office space: One desk, one chair, one motivational poster and another door on the opposite side. In the first minute, or so, of entering the room you notice a residue, similar to the one you found earlier, around the poster, on the other door and all over the floor.” “Well,” said Quinn. “Since there's stuff around the poster and not on the poster, I'd guess that we should look behind the poster.” [Jane as a Dungeon Master? Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned....]
  • Stacy Rowe, Seeker (Part III), by jtranser (continued): Berlin, Cabaret Wandersmann, August 1928: Dense swirls of blue smoke saturated the atmosphere, replacing the noxious oxygen that occupied the place during daylight hours.
  • Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Unwanted alien pets! Next, on Sick Sad World!), by OverlordMikey (COMPLETE!): "Daria... this is a dream right? I'll wake up and Mom will be my mom and Dad will be my dad and no one will have died. I'll be hanging out with my friends pretending you're not my sister."
  • Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Unwanted alien pets! Next, on Sick Sad World!), by Richard Lobinske (COMPLETE!): Daria folded her arms. "My own daughter. I'm a little surprised at you. Why did you get a pet if you can't take care of it?"
  • Unnamed story (Scenes That Should Be: Brains for Rent), by Tsrcroggs (Part 1): The public did not take well the idea of powerful meta-humans with a literal case of multiple-personality disorder. Laws had been enacted placing any known Oversoul into Facilities for their "care and treatment." Daria was the tenth Oversoul to be identified and the fifth to enter this particular Facility at the age of 13.
  • Warm Colors, by thatLONERchick (COMPLETE!): Daria sat on the end of her unmade queen-sized bed, flipping through the channels as Jane swept her brush through a dense tangle of colors rioting across her canvas. It was one of her abstracts, brilliant red and green swirling into the center. The effect was that of a person being sucked down into the center of a vortex.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

The Possum-bilities Are Endless

Today is the 96th anniversary of the birth of Walt Kelly, the creator of Pogo, which was one of my favorite comics when I was very small. I trust anyone who remembers this philosophical comic strip will share fond thoughts about it with me. It is possible that Daria, knowingly or not, can quote some of Pogo's most famous sayings, many of which have worked their way into our culture. (Amy Barksdale, at right, is far more likely to have been an appreciative Pogo fan.) I know that at least one Daria fanfic writer is very aware of Pogo.

This is also the 174th anniversary of the infamous Moon Hoax, perpetrated by the New York Sun. Daria would certain find that story highly amusing. Curious that today some people think that landing on the Moon was a hoax. You can't please everyone, can you?

Stay tooned.

Monday, August 24, 2009

An Octomom, She Isn't

Nine years ago today, TV Guide published an "interview" with Daria Morgendorffer that covered the then-upcoming movie Is It Fall Yet? and her life in general. One question she was asked, and her response, are worth noting.

  • Q: Do your career goals include working with children?
  • A: Well, I don't plan to pursue "trapped in a living hell" as a career, so no.
Daria has expressed feelings like this before, and it is interesting that her parents have even come close to saying the same for themselves, in responding to a long-ago question from a viewer.

Given her parents' comments, it seems likely Daria will eventually (reluctantly?) have one or two kids. Or she might not, and just opt for favorite aunt status with Quinn's kids. It is interesting that in "Lane Miserables," she imagined a future in which she and Trent had one child. This was about a year of Dariaverse time after she imagined herself childless and married in "Write Where It Hurts."

Also on this day, just three years ago, astronomers finally figured out what a planet is, but then they forgot to include Pluto. Dwarf planet, indeed [shakes fist at sky]. SOCIALISM IS TO BLAME! However, there is a movement afoot to fix this horrible injustice.

One hundred and ten years ago was born a man with a passion for books and writing (no doubt a role model for Daria). Jorge Luis Borges is acclaimed for his fantastic works, and something of him has even crossed over into Daria fanfiction. Scissors MacGillicutty's unfinished "In Dreams" has Daria and Jane discover Borges' Library of Babel in the Morgendorffer family's attic. (You may read what Borges said about the Library here.)

Enjoy the day. Oh, and if you are looking for a new Iron Chef, Lorenzo Sauchelli presents: Daria's Little Helper.

PPMB
  • John Lane 42: Legally Halloween, by Richard Lobinske (Part 1): "Okay, you win. We'll go to Brittany's party. But to warn you, there's as much chance of me wearing an Emma Peel catsuit as there is of you wearing one."
  • The Runaway, by Aloysius (Part 1): Pete shook his head and smiled as he watched the boys move off. Therefore, he didn’t see a pajama-clad brunette climb into the back of his trailer and hide amongst the boxes.
  • Scarlett the Fairy, by Aloysius (COMPLETE!): This is a story about Scarlett the Fairy, and her quest to get her favorite food by far: muffins. Scarlett, you see, is a fourteen-inch tall fairy, with straight red hair that extends to her shoulders in somewhat helmet-shaped haircut. The hair, many times, covers at least one of her eyes and she’s been known to give people and other fairies (as well as other imaginary creatures) a cryptic smile.
  • Wristcutters: A Daria Story, by Charliefox2012 (Parts 1 to 3): The awesome fanfic from FF.net makes its way to PPMB. Read and enjoy.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Fire! Fire! Fire!

On this day back in Roman times, the Romans got to celebrate Volcanalia, held in honor of the god Vulcan, who oversaw volcanoes, fire, and blacksmithing. At right we see two modern-day acolytes of Vulcan practicing their arcane rituals in Highland, Texas, offering up a meaty sacrifice to their deity. (The blond one is doing it wrong.)

It was a bit queer when Mt. Vesuvius began to show signs of life on this particular day 1,930 years ago, because the Romans living on and around Vesuvius did not know what a volcano was, having never really seen one or thought much about the matter. That was unfortunate, because on the very next day Vesuvius went boom and Pompeii, Herculaneum, and a few other towns in the area simply disappeared. We know better now, as Helen Morgendorffer apparently once rejected the idea of moving to Mount St. Helens, even though Jake said it had her name and so must be a good place to live.

Even if you know all fifty of the United States of America, you probably don't know about the state of Franklin, which came into existence 225 years ago. How that came about is a long story. Today, what was once Franklin is now eastern Tennessee. History is weird, isn't it?

NUZ U KAN YUZ: I've decided to honor those who follow this blog, the dozen of you (love ya!), by adding a Followers gadget to the bottom of the left column. I would love to have more Daria fanz following my rantings and ravings, and you are welcome to join in. Sadly you do not get any money for doing this, nor bonus points or a free clock radio. However, you will have the deep satisfaction of... um, having deep satisfaction. It's worth it. Trust me.

If you are a follower, please drop a note here about what you like about this blog, and I will try to have more of it. Always happy to make you happy. And if you don't like something, let me know that, too.

As a side note, I've subscribed to all the Daria-related blogs I can find, but none of them are currently active except Fortress CINCGREEN, off and on. Dang. Is anyone else interested in starting a Daria fandom blog or fan website, so like we could have drag races and wrestling matches and everything? Never hurts to ask. Another blog would be interesting because it always changes, always has something different. Guess I never got the publishing, writing, and editing urges out of me when I left magazine work.

On a related matter, are there any other animated-series fandom websites? I never checked. Might be interesting to see what they're like and steal borrow something from them.

Moar soon. As promised...

ART UPDATE: Richard Lobinske has once again updated the 2009 Daria Visual Fanworks listing. Thank you!

PPMB
  • One Point Perspective, by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): In the beginning of the year Daria Morgendorffer walked into Mr. DeMartino's classroom. And nothing in Brittany's life was ever the same.
  • Unnamed story (Crossovers Not Yet Crossed Over), by Wraith (COMPLETE!): Daria slowly and deliberately marked her place with a bookmark, closed the book, and placed it in her lap. She then looked at Mr. Farrier for a uncomfortably long time before sighing. "Mr. Farrier. I'm not sure I made myself clear. Your offer was... curious. But extremely vague. I'm afraid I really can't call what I have "interest" until I know more about it. You do have my curiosity, though."
  • Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Crazy Pairing Story), by OverlordMikey (COMPLETE!): Tom and Daria stand side by side. Suddenly Tom has a heart attack and then chickens come out of nowhere and peck at his corpse. [Additional material here.]

Saturday, August 22, 2009

The Bonny Beast of Loch Ness

Daria, who has a well-established love of cryptozoology based on her attendance at a Bigfoot convention (per The Daria Diaries), would of course be versed in the lore of the Loch Ness Monster. As it happens, the first recorded sighting of a monster in this part of Scotland took place on this day a mere 1,444 years ago (A.D. 565). And you thought the legend was a recent one!

In a book about the life of Saint Columba, originally written in Latin, it is noted in Chapter 28 that the saint chased off a monster in the river Ness, which drains directly into the loch. (Go to this link and search for "XXVIII" to get to the English translation of the chapter.) Interesting reading.

However, do you know that not a single Daria fanfic makes use of the Loch Ness Monster except in the briefest passing, despite the fact that we once had a thread that discussed a live toad allegedly found at the bottom of Loch Ness, which created a toad-smoking meme that went on for years? What's the matter with you people? Get on the stick! Make "Monster" about the real thing!

On another important topic: what do you want to see on the Daria DVD set? This magical question is being asked on PPMB, so go to that thread and contribute.

Moar l8r. Back again!

Can you give some fanfic help for OverlordMikey? Go to this PPMB thread if so.

Speaking of OverlordMikey, he has started a new Iron Chef for PPMB: Crazy Pairing Story. Any takers?

And another Iron Chef: Unwanted alien pets! Next, on Sick Sad World!

FF.net
  • Pigskin Caduceus, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 1): “Now, class,” Mr. DeMartino said, “which of you can pull your heads out from under the rock where you’ve been living, and explain to me what the Monroe Doctrine was? How about you, Miss Griffin?” He turned to Sandi Griffin, one of Quinn’s friend. “Why should I care about what some dead people say?” she responded.

PPMB
  • A Mess in Lawndale, by Aloysius (Part 2): “I’m still trying to figure out why you told me about your little secret,” Jane said to Daria as the two teens left the Morgendorffer house. “I mean, if you’re not going to telekinetically pick me up and carry me, then what’s the point?”
  • Rainbow Disconnection, by Disco316 (Part 3): “So that’s why you offered to help with my facial rash,” said Daria, intently listening to her sister. “Well, that was part of it, but I meant what I said: skin-care crises transcend personality conflicts,” said Quinn.
  • Regifted, by Ajar (Part 14): “Where are you going?” Marina asked. “Just to the bathroom," said Jodie. "I've got to get ready quickly to make it to class on time.” “I don't know if I can let you do that.” “Why not?” asked Jodie suspiciously.
  • Sick, Sad World, by Ajar (COMPLETE!): "Did you look at the tape? Did you see me on Sick, Sad World?" "There was no tape." "There was no Sick, Sad World on last night?" "Not last night... Not ever."
  • Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Daria Kills Jane, or Vice Versa), by OverlordMikey (COMPLETE!): Daria confronted her former friend atop the roof of Lawndale High. The night air had chilled her to the bone, but now that she stood in front of the one she had searched for it no longer mattered. "Jane." "Oh Daria, you came!"
  • Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Daria Kills Jane, Or Vice Versa), by Paisleygal (COMPLETE!): The sound of Daria’s boots on the linoleum floor seemed to echo through the quiet hallway. The nurse looked up from her computer and smiled at the small woman. She glanced at the clock even though she didn’t need to. It was 11:00am Sunday morning, time for Daria’s weekly visit.

The Illustrated Jake & Other Birthdays

I know, I know, the headline didn't make any sense. Whatever.

There are a lot of very relevant birthdays applying to Daria fandom today. Let's fix them up to show their importance.

Jake's Alter Ego: Today is the 89th birthday of master storyteller Ray Bradbury, whose books kept me entertained and informed throughout my childhood. Of particular interest is Jake's alter ego, that of a tattooed man from a circus, which perfectly sets off Bradbury's short-story collection, The Illustrated Man. (The book cover at left is the same as on the copy I owned.)

Daria's Literary Role Model: Writer and critic Dorothy Parker, she of the sharp pen and sharper wit, was born 116 years ago. Read some of her barbed remarks for a real education in wicked writing. She even has a New York City fan club.

Upchuck's Favorite Bond Girl: Honor Blackman celebrates her 84th birthday today. She appeared as a Bond Girl in Goldfinger, and I would bet this appearance (for obvious reasons) made her Charles the Third's favorite.

Summer Lane: Yes, according to one popular fandom mythology, Jane and Trent's oldest sister, Summer Love Lane, was born this day 42 years ago, which was also the same day Vincent and Amanda tied the knot.

Just Because: George Herriman, one of the immortals in the cartooning world, was born 129 years ago today. He was the creator of Krazy Kat, who was forever being hit on the head with a brick by the mouse that Krazy Kat loved. Do you see any application of this theme to any one Daria character in particular?


MOAR NUZ: The announcement that Daria is coming out on DVD in 2010 galvanized two of the message boards for our fandom. If you like posting on MBs other than PPMB or SFMB, try alt.tv.daria and Television Without Pity, the latter of which is going great guns. Sadly, all of the other MBs appear to have died for now. (The stub MB for Daria on The Onion's website has been taken offline for lack of interest, alas.)

Brother Grimace has published a teaser for his next fanfic on PPMB: Legion of Lawndale Heroes 13.7: Time for Me to Fly. Check it out.

A PPMB thread on student stereotypes and using them in fanfiction is moving along well.

MDetector5 has turned Quinn into a costumed furry. For some reason it makes me think of Honor Blackman again.

Hope your day is a good one.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Aloha from the Fashion Club!

Stacy Rowe shakes her fashionable grass skirt in celebration of Hawaii's 50th anniversary of statehood today.

Today is also the 36th birthday of computer wizard Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google (which operates Blogger.com, which makes this blog possible: thank you!).

It is a special day in animation history as well, being the 103rd birthday anniversary of Warner Brothers animator Friz Freleng, who invented so many WB cartoon characters I can't even list them all here. Daria probably knows most of them on a first-name basis. Would Daria be as sarcastic as she is without Bugs Bunny's snarky comments?

The American Bar Association, which maintains a code of ethics for lawyers in the United States, was formed today 131 years ago. This concept must make Jim Vitale laugh loud and long.

A news item from online, by way of the Jackson Free Press (Jackson, Miss.), is "Movie Review, Sort of" about IIFY? and MTV in general.

Richard Lobinske is trolling for Halloween costume ideas for a story he's writing in the John Lane series. Go help him out and make yourself famous.

Moar on the way.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Fun Guy from Yuggoth

H.P. Lovecraft was born on this day 119 years ago. As a writer he is best known for his works of fantastic horror, particularly "Call of Quinnthulhu," "The Shadow over Lawndale," and "The Statement of Daria Morgendorffer" (sometimes entitled "The Journal of Daria Morgendorffer"). At right are some of his most terrible creations. All who have read his works never forget the ghastly cry: "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!"

An article about Daria in French has appeared on the Internet: "Rendez-nous Daria!" (Télérama.fr) If you can translate it, let us know what it says. [Mr. Orange figured it out; see Comments. Merci!]

"Maid for Mind Control," a new fan artwork by MDetector5, makes a heralded appearance on PPMB. It made me smile.

Medea42 captured a special item with her camera: Daria's post secret. Really makes you think.

With the talk lately about finding free downloads, interested parties might wish to look at a Daria fan website in Italian which has some excellent stuff to download for free. You might be amazed, startled, stunned even.

NEW! MDetector5 has a new PPMB Iron Chef up: Revenge of Stacy Rowe!

I checked to see how many hits this blog has gotten, and it's up to 108,500+. Thank you!

FF.net
  • Daria Morgendorffer Sat in the Room, by Pinkminx (COMPLETE!): "I don't know why I wasted so much time on those pathetic self esteem classes; this is a much more effective treatment." [A Clockwork Orange crossover seen earlier here on PPMB]
PPMB
  • Downbelow, by Smijey, a.k.a. Smileyfax (Part 1): Daria's head was spinning the deeper she read through the stack. The ludicrous things Mr. DeMartino had told her last night... they couldn't be true. They couldn't POSSIBLY be true. At the bottom of the stack was a note, with a Post-It attached to it. The Post-It was a note from Mr. DeMartino: "My dog fished a bottle from a sewer drain two weeks ago. This note was in that bottle." The note read: Tell Daria Jane says hi from down below. [FF.net]

Wallpapers, Get Your Free MTV Wallpapers!

I spent way too long playing with Archive.org's WayBack Machine last night, and lo! here are a bunch of computer wallpapers and webpage backgrounds. I skipped some of the little tiled ones but will add them later. If you want to see what an image will look like as wallpaper, click on the link and right-click the mouse, then select "Set as desktop background." Finally, click on "Tile."

Remember that any computerized image can be set as wallpaper, but a subdued/pastel tone is best if you plan to put writing over it as the background to a web page you're creating. Dark backgrounds should have light, bright lettering, and pale backgrounds dark lettering. A very light screen (background shade) actually improves legibility, which is why I use very light gray tones on some of my fanfic.


The Not Quite Complete List of
All MTV Computer Wallpapers for
Animated Shows and Other Stuff

(1997-2001)



AEON FLUX
Aeon Flux, 1
Aeon Flux, 2

BEAVIS AND BUTTHEAD
Beavis and Butt-head, 1
Beavis and Butt-head, 2
Beavis and Butt-head (on couch)
Beavis and Butt-head (Christmas wreath)
Beavis and Butt-head (doctors)
Beavis and Butt-head (Huh-huh, small)
Beavis and Butt-head (Beavis with frog in mouth, small)
Mr. Van Driessen

CELEBRITY DEATHMATCH
Deathmatch
Deathmatch Ring

DOWNTOWN
Downtown (blue)

SPYGROOVE
Spygroove




DARIA

BRITTANY
Brittany (name)
Brittany
Bubbles (Brittany)
Pom-poms (Brittany)
Space Brittany

QUINN
Quinn (name)
Space Quinn Page
Quinn
Fashion Club Page
Cute (Quinn)

DARIA
Daria (name)
Daria Main Page (2000)
Space Daria Character Page
Daria Character Page
Daria Data (computer theme)
Daria Character Page (2001)
Daria Screensaver Background (2001)
Daria (face oblique)
Daria (face front, purple)
Daria (face front, blue)
The World According to Daria (space theme)

HELEN AND JAKE
Helen & Jake (names)
Helen Character Page (2000)
Jake Character Page (2000)
Jake

KEVIN
Kevin (name)
Gridiron (Kevin)

JANE
Jane (name)
Jane Character Page
Lane-Bay, 1 (space theme)
Lane-Bay, 2 (space theme)

TRENT AND MYSTIK SPIRAL
Trent (name)
Trent (space theme)
Mystik Spiral
Trent and Spiral

JOMA (Jodie and Mack)
Jodie & Mack (names)

UPCHUCK
Upchuck (name)
Upchuck Character Page (red curtains)

OTHER DARIA
Virtual Lawndale (space theme)
Lawndale Lions
Ask the Cast (space theme)
Downloadables (space theme)
Exclusive Clips (space theme)
Daria Store (space theme)


"Why, someone ought to sue!" And then... someone did.

Remember the good old days of the Internet, when everyone got involved in flame wars and you could say anything about anyone and no one could do anything about it?

Those days are over.

If you operate a blog, log into chat rooms, post in message boards, or send e-mail, you are strongly advised to read this news item about a legal case in New York in which a blogger (using Blogger.com, by the way, the same megasite this blog is on) insulted a fashion model, and the judge ordered Google to turn over the blogger's IP address and e-mail address to the model's attorney, who plans to sue the blogger for defamation.

When you finish that, see some of these other views on the issue: ZDNET, CBS, Guardian. This is big. Think about this. Very, very carefully. People have been insulting each other on the Internet for well over a decade.

And now the gateway to hell has been opened. The lawyers are coming out.

What do you think will happen next, now that a legal precedent has been established for defamation on the 'net? I think I missed my calling, that's what. Internet law. I could have been a billionaire by now. Good thing I made up my mind early on to be nice here.

Will this have any effect on Daria fandom? That depends. Do you engage in flame wars on any Daria-related message board? This might be a good time to call it quits and keep disagreements to private mail and e-mail, or just ignore everyone you think is an idiot.

Wishing you the best in court,
TAG


P.S.I was only kidding about the connection between lawyers and hell. You do understand that, right? It was meant to be humorous and not real or an insult or anything. I like lawyers. Some of my best friends were eaten by lawyers.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Big Name Birthday Boys

Today is the anniversary of the birthdays of Gene Roddenberry (who created Star Trek) and former President Bill Clinton. Just thought you should know. Tom (left) is disguised as Captain Christopher Pike (right), after his near-fatal banana-peel injury. Tom's life-support model is spiffier than the original one, as you can see. That's because Tom has more money. ("This oxygenation dial goes all the way up to eleven!")

Looking for Daria-themed wallpaper for your computer? See this PPMB thread for ideas. I will list more when I get time. I've found a bunch on old MTV Daria sites.

Going back to a topic mentioned earlier, I would rather not link directly to NC-17 rated fanfiction here, but a blog on adult Daria material probably isn't warranted. SFMB can handle the whole issue quite well in its message board.

Bill Clinton, by the way, is shown in the act of answering Daria Morgendorffer's question about funding for education at Highland High School (Beavis and Butt-head episode "Citizen Butt-head"). Very few fanfics even mention this event in her life. Strange.

Why is Daria so disliked? Perhaps her hatred of lying, liars, duplicity, and so forth is the reason. Interesting article.

Stay tooned.

You Won't Believe This, But...

Today is POTATO DAY! YAY!

And one other website on that issue, and we're done with Mr. O'Neill.

Today is also National Aviation Day in the U.S. I think we are supposed to fly or something.

Also, three years from this day, Daria will face death on an alien planet! Yay! Oh, wait, sorry. I meant, um, oh no!

New/revised Backgrounders: Dawn, Winner, Cindy, Green Cap Dude.

FF.net has some adult-rated Daria fanfic, so if you are interested, go and check it out. Not sure if I should list it, you tell me.

What's on PPMB is below....

PPMB
  • JUST IN! Bleeding Minds, by thatLONERchick (COMPLETE!): Daria walked in on a horrifying scene. Jane knelt on the carpet in the center of her room, a kitchen knife held in her left hand. A steady stream of red dripped from her elbow to soak into the thick nap of the rug. Jane glanced up at her friend's entry and her eyes lit in a mad, heartbreaking smile.
  • Bromwell Bound: That One Fateful Summer, by HolyGrail2007 (COMPLETE!): [Repost of excellent story from FF.net. Welcome, HolyGrail2007, to PPMB!]
  • Daria the Hoosier, by Doggieboy (Part 7): “You can talk to me, Daria,” she said. “I may be an adult, but I can listen well and not be judgmental. After all, I do remember what it’s like being a teenager.” She waited a few seconds, then added, “I know that you and Jim are friends, but I also understand that there are some things girls just can’t talk to guys about.”
  • Love Is a Series of Burning Sensations, by Undefinedlust (Part 11, continued): "So you'll be able to make it tonight?" Daria asked Jane as she opened her locker. "Of course, how could I miss my best friend's eighteenth birthday party?" Jane replied as she noticed an envelope fall from Daria's locker. "You dropped something." She said as she picked up an envelope with Daria's written name on it.
  • Once More, With Sitting, by Richard Lobinske (COMPLETE!): "What's that smell?" Lauren said as she opened the door. Lester followed and said, "It smells like something from college. I know, it's pizza." "Pizza?" Lauren said. Raising her voice, she called out, "Daria!" (FF.net)
  • JUST IN! The Other Side of Time: Unfinished Business, by The Sidhe (continued): “It was considered advisable to have the Sloanes, as well as the people who were putting them up, under police protection on the off-chance that this was a vendetta of some kind against the Sloane family,” the police officer said. “Or that this was the work of some people who had an unknown grudge against the Sloanes.”
  • Regifted, by Ajar (Part 13): Monday began similar to any of the last few days for Jodie. She awoke from her two-and-a-half-hour sleep and took the final pill in Marina's bottle so that she could get enough energy to stumble through her school day. At first, classes seemed to proceed as normal, giving no hint at the fact that this day was to become the worst day of Jodie's life.
  • JUST IN! Sis Boob Bah, by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): "It's like a nose job, only lower."
  • Stacy Rowe, Seeker (Part III), by jtranser: She could not remember how far she'd run. Her biocongruence with the ship was broken. All the electronics, devices and machines at her command were unable to detect the Maugher and therefore she was unable to destroy him.
  • Transcript, by Raskolnikov (Paret 1): Laura, hon, I know you collect… let’s put it this way… “interesting” interrogation transcripts. I’m pretty sure this one will have a high place in your particular Top Ten. Enjoy the read.
  • True Crud, by Pinkminx (Part 2): Sheriff Timothy O'Neil and Detective Anthony DeMartino's flashlights lit up the dank, dark corner of the alley behind McGrundy's, as they studied Brittney's body. Detective DeMartino crouched down and poked the implement that had been driven through her chest; originally thought to have been a tire iron, the object in question, was in fact, a curling iron.
  • Unnamed story (Crossovers Not Yet Crossed Over), by Dennis (COMPLETE!): "See me! Feel me! Touch me! Heal me!"
  • Unnamed story (Scenes That Should Be: Brains for Rent), by Roentgen (plot bunny): The game was called "Enemies List". Each of the participants had a list of 16 players and a list of 16 positions designed as "friend" or "enemy." The purpose of the game was simple: don't kill your friends, but kill your enemies.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Daria for Dictator!

Evidently I picked the wrong day to give up crack, because TODAY (not yesterday) is the 10th anniversary of the premiere of "Jane's Addition." This is all Tom's fault.

Today is also the 89th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote in the United States and eventually led to Daria Morgendorffer becoming Dictator-for-Life of North Am.

Pinkminx has re-edited "Just Friends" on FF.net and would appreciate some feedback. Give her a hand, please.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Hidden Symbolism

Notice anything unusual about this image?

The deeper that UU and I go into identifying the various characters in Daria, the more interesting certain iconic images become. This is of course Daria and Jane at their graduation in Is It College Yet? However, there is a little more to this picture than immediately meets the eye. Daria and Jane are literally surrounded by three women who were important to the show. The long-haired girl to the left of Jane is (as can best be told) the last winner of any of MTV's contests to have yourself drawn into an episode. She is the last one of us, the fans, to make it into the show, and is thus symbolic of the show's fandom.

The glasses-wearing girl immediately behind Jane, partially hidden by Jane's hair, is a character based upon the Daria show's producer, Cindy Brolsma. Click the link on her name to see proof of this.

And the character to the immediate right of Daria, Burnout Girl, is one based upon the supervising director of the show, Karen Disher.

Get it? Daria and Jane are being shown here within a trinity of women who made the show what it was: the producer, the director, and the fans. There is no possible way this was an accident.

You could even argue that the character known as Dawn, almost hidden by Daria's head, is symbolic of all those on the MTV animation staff who were not around when the show finally ended. The first three iconic individuals, however, count the most.

How do you like THEM apples?

Monday, again?



Don't you hate it when that happens? You're having a perfectly good weekend with a tropical storm passing by and then...bang. Monday hits you and spoils everything.

To help ease into another Monday back at whatever consumes your life, how about a little light reading from Crusading Saint that takes a look at one of the shows unsung background characters.

Assistant Living



Back to School! The Horror!


Principal Li has a special message for you about the start of the school year.
And this subsequent reminder.
And this added note.
And this.
Enjoy!