It all began with a little guy in a flower...

One hundred and two years ago today in Paris, Émile Cohl released the first-ever animated movie: Fantasmagorie. To this one, short, silent cartoon, Daria and all other animated shows and movies owe their very existence. Merci, Monsieur Cohl.

NouZ!

• McKeon offers a new Iron Chef: The General's Men. What if Ms. Li managed to invent a positive spin to getting paid by General Buck Conroy, by having a few extra hours class added to the schedule when put on the spot?
• Not to be outdone, MystikSpiral gives us Iron Chef: Gangster School. How will Daria fit into a gangster school? And what IS a gangster school?
• Roentgen has a strange challenge for us: Iron Cook: Post-Death Daria. "What if Daria were live-action? And what if the principal character died before shooting could start? How would her absence be explained?"
• Daria stickers, half price! (Thanks for the tip, Chris Tucker!)
  

FF.net

• If Nothing Else, by Harley McCoy (Part 3): The next morning paced itself like any other day for the Morgendorffers. "Honey, I expect you to help Daria regain her memory?" Helen sang, dashing about the kitchen in preparation for leaving for work. "Uh-huh." "Remember the doctor said that any little thing could trigger her memory to come back." Helen locked up her briefcase and grabbed a protein shake from the refrigerator, a common breakfast substitute. "Uh-huh." Quinn picked at another piece of her low-fat blueberry muffin, leafing through the newest Waif issue.

PPMB

• The Alter-Ego Chronicles 2: (Change The Story) Morning Glory, by TheExcellentS (Part 2): “With all due respect, Mr. Williams, why do you feel like our show needs to retooled? We have the highest ratings out any show in Lawndale.” “Any questions you ladies will have will be answered after this presentation.” “Lights please, someone!” “Great. This is going to be like Mr. O’Neill’s self-esteem class all over again.” “Yup. I can just tell he’s going to make references to realizing one’s actuality before poor Ted gets dragged aside for the nocturnal emissions talk.”

• As If by Magic, by Yogi (COMPLETE!): Despite her love of video games, the arcade was a place that Daria rarely visited. The thing was, Daria didn't want to go along, arcades cost money, and Jane wasn't exactly rich. Unlike Pizza, it was harder to “forget” whose turn it was to pay, so it was only rarely that the two of them visited the Arcade. They'd play some of the old classics, get in a few shots at the new releases if the lines weren't too long, and spend the rest of their time doing what they did best; commenting on the people around them. Since this was the only place where certain niche games could be found in America, there was always plenty to comment on. A fact that they also found worthy to comment on was that Tiffany Blum-Decker seemed to also be a frequent connoisseur of the arcade.
  
• The Camera III, by Brian Taylor (COMPLETE!): Amy, wearing a gray sweater, sits before a TV, playing a video game with no small amount of skill. The camera's positioned so that the whole screen's being taped. The controller clicks in her hand. Mario bounces up the broken staircase leading to 8-3, and onto the flag pole. "As she prepares to set the modern land speed record for completing Super Mario Bros., Amelia Millicent Barksdale reflects on the long hours of meditation and reflection which made this tremendous accomplishment possible."

• Daria/Dorian 6: Christmas Chaos, by LadieT (COMPLETE!): Deciding that a hasty retreat from the house was in order, Dorian headed to Casa Lane to listen to Mystik Spiral rehearse. Hearing the opening notes to "Ice Box Woman," Dorian headed to the basement. Trent sat his guitar down. "I take it you had to get away for a while," Trent chuckled. "Yeah..I had to leave before the debate about sugar plums started. What time does your show start tonight?" "Seven. We should be done by nine. Your mom said something about if I wasn't back at your house by eleven she was going to hang me using the wreath on the front door."
• Daria Morgendorffer vs. The World, by Erin M. (COMPLETE!): The stupidity started that night at the Zon. Mystik Spiral was playing its umpteenth gig at the seedy bar with questionable ID checking policies. Daria and Jane were standing in the crowd, which was larger than normal, since summer had just started and most of the high school and college students wanted to start it right: with booze and bad music. "Is it just me or is there something weird in the air tonight?" Daria said, turning to Jane. "I think they may have actually decided to put some air freshener in the vents, but otherwise I'm not really seeing any—what the hell is that?" (FF.net) (Daria/Scott Pilgrim vs. The World)
  

• Dimwits & Dragons, by Ken T (Part 5): "Hold it right there!" the voice ordered. "I want to see your hands. All of you!" Daria heard Brittany squeak and submerge again as she lifted her hands and lost buoyancy. Opening her eyes, she could see the fuzzy figures of several armed men in bright armor through the strands of her sodden hair. She needed her glasses to make out any additional detail, but they were in the pouch tucked into her belt, and she figured making any movement for them would cause more trouble than it was worth. Off to her left, Jane giggled. "I was wrong. They CAN'T be used as flotation devices." (Daria/Dungeons & Dragons: The Animated Series)
  
• Favorite Dish, by Hazazel (COMPLETE!): Jodie stepped out of a cap in front of the Mackenzie residence. It was five to nine, she was almost late. They had agreed to meet at Mack’s home, as his folks were away this night. Mack had said he had a surprise for her. We really need all the quality time we can get, considering how little time we have for each other,” she thought, and instantly corrected “How little time I have for him, actually. Jodie sighed and knocked at the door. She waited for a moment, and since nothing happened, she knocked the door again. Nothing! Jodie tried the door, and noticed to her amazement that it was open. How strange, Mack doesn’t usually leave his door open. She opened the door and went inside.
  

• Finn Morgendorffer 56: A Journey to Eternity, by HolyGrail2007 (Parts 2 and 3): “Daria, hey, it’s Henry!” Henry’s overly cheerful voice came from the phone. “How... did you get my phone number here? I don’t think I gave it to you.” “I got you really drunk. And now I know your phone number, your house size, your height, your bust...” “I don’t drink.” “That artist friend of yours gave it to me when we met. Said I should feel free to torture you over the summer since I was the best thing to happen to you since college got started. Wow, I feel special, but not like...” “Henry, what do you want?” Daria interrupted. (Part 3)
• General Semantics, Private Angst, by Gwrtheyrn (Part 28): "Please, don't be alarmed, Miss Daria!" Sherman said. "No-one's followed me. I suppose that others could find you; just not the same way I did." "And how did you?" Daria asked. "I figured that wherever you went, you'd find people, and they'd start to do something which would put major drainage on the power grid." "'Something?'" Daria echoed. "Like, what?" The man in the comfy chair chuckled. Daria noticed quite a change in Sherman's demeanor since the last time she'd seen him. He seemed two sizes larger. "You can't expect me to guess that! But, for sure, it would be something!" (Daria/World of Null-A)
  

• God Save the Esteem II, by Charles RB (COMPLETE!): “Now, Quinn... what do you see here?” “It's a picture of two people talking, like, duh,” sneered ‘Killer’ Quinn. “That’s supposed to be a test?! Bitch, please!” Manson drew in a deep breath. “Can you make up a little story about what it is they're discussing?” “Let's see... they've been unfairly stepped on by The Man just because they’ve been late to school a few times and got caught smoking, so he’s saying ‘gahdammit I’ve had enough of fucking school!’ and she’s saying ‘fuck yeah, let’s blow it up!’ And then they sing Another Brick in the Wall while planting explosives.” Quinn smirked. (ending here)
  
• Grove Hell 2: All the Lawndale People, by Charles RB (Part 9): The car had an atmosphere akin to the Secretariat during Stalin’s reign, and everyone was waiting to see who Helen was going to white out of the party history first. They’d been driving for three minutes when she snapped out: “Mother called. She’s blaming us for this debacle. All of us! Bad enough the mess at the reception but when you somehow convince Erin to call for a divorce the day after the wedding, well! Rita will never speak to me again!” “So I’ve done you a favor.” “NOT FUNNY, DARIA! I don’t want to hear any of your attempts at wit and your snide remarks, not after what you’ve done! I’m ashamed of you, I really am!” (FF.net)
  

• Is It College Yet? (Iron Cook: Post-Death Daria version), by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): "Hello, Daria... yeah, I've still decided that I'm giving up on BFAC and applying to Lawndale State... yeah... yeah, I know that you haven't decided where you want to go, either... what? You have an idea of how I can broaden my portfolio? Let me hear it."
• NEW! Jacob Morgendorffer, Esq., by CAP (Part 12): “Well, girls,” Jake began after Trent left. “It is still early. What would you like to do?” “Mess with drunks on Dega street,” proposed Jane. “Drag racing down by the quarry,” Daria suggested. “Go down to Seven Corners and watch cars crash,” Jane countered. “Satan worship at High Hills Park,” Daria shot back. “How about really cutting loose and getting some banana splits?” Jake asked. “Risky, Dad,” Daria replied. “If the press got wind of it, your political career could be over after only two months.”
  
• Jane Lane: Ace Attorney—Turnabout Teacher's Pet, by LSauchelli (Parts 14 and 15): The judge stroke his gavel looking as solemn as ever. He smiled at Daria, who appeared to have been waiting for everyone else for a while, and then shook his head at Jane, who was just getting to court. “You are late, Ms. Lane,” said the judge, frowning. “What?! But it’s barely two thirty... one!” “Exactly, you’re late!” said the judge, “You will be penalized for this!” he exclaimed, striking with his gavel, forcing her imaginary life bar down to 20%. (Part 15) (Daria/Ace Attorney game)
  

• John Lane 47: Another Look in the Mirror, by RLobinske (Part 4): There was a loud knock at the door. Daria looked at it and said, "Someone too clueless to see the doorbell?" "Probably a delivery man," Helen said. "Can you get it, sweetie?" "My leg's not broken, so I guess I can." There was another loud knock before Daria reached the door. "Hold on," she said, opening it. "Uh, oh." Brian stood in the doorway. "Where's Erin?" He said. Daria could smell the alcohol on his breath. "Um, I don't think she wants to see you." "I didn't ask if she wanted to see me," Brian said and pushed his way past Daria. "I asked if she was here."
  
• Judge Daria, by Brian Taylor (Part 2): "Are these the frightening features of the germ-lab Arsene Lupin? The spook who stole the common cold, when Sick Sad World returns!" Jane Lane snorted at the gargoyle depicted on screen in the five seconds before the show went to commercial. One foot was propped against a chair while she laced up a well-worn running shoe. "Please," she said into the telephone tucked between her ear and her shoulder. "It had to be the Greys. Everybody knows they use deadly deadly viruses as currency on Altair IV." "As part of the 'Buy Now, Die Forever' payment plan, no doubt." Daria's voice came through from the other end of the line, flat but amused. Jane lowered her foot to the floor, wriggled her toes in the trainer. (Daria/Judge Dredd)
  

• Judith Strikes!/Legion of Lawndale Heroes Mini: The Legion Encounters, Part IV: Not So Different, by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): The cadet smiled—a response that would have shocked most of the individuals who knew him, or scared them. “Are you afraid of me? Are you really so afraid of what I can do to you?” The young woman looked at him with total contempt, and turned away. “Be thankful that I don’t kill you where you stand. I know how to deal with telepaths.” “You see, that’s one big misunderstanding that everyone has about me,” David Allen said, straightening his tie. “One thing that ‘mundanes’ don’t really get is that not all of us are alike.”
• Judith Strikes!/Tales of the Ringbearers: The Last Stand of Odell Jones, by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): A combined gasp of shock and anger rose up as the image of a woman, wearing what appeared to be a gladiatorial costume and possessing large batlike wings (one of which appeared to be completely sheared off, along with her left arm just below the shoulder; her left side appeared to be peppered with serious burns as her right wing flapped feebly in the vacuum of space) floated through the debris field of the ship, along with the few remains of several reanimates—a couple of which actually seemed to be alive and functional...
• NEW! Kolchak: The Lawndale File, by Chris Tucker (Parts 1 and 2): Lawndale has a roadside attraction. A Giant Strawberry. As weary as I was from the journey, the instant I saw the first "See The GIANT STRAWBERRY!" sign, I knew I had to stop. Yes. It IS a Giant Strawberry. It commemorates the fact that Lawndale was once the "strawberry growing capitol of Maryland." If one pays the dollar fee, one is then permitted the signal honor of climbing the 100 steps (each step having an important strawberry fact in mosaic upon it) to the "famous observation deck" at the summit of The Giant Strawberry. I decided that I would reserve that treat for later. I am not as young as I once was and must ration my excitement. (NEWER! Part 2) (Daria/Kolchak: The Night Stalker)
  
• The Lane That Wasn't, by LadieT (Part 19): "Which path do you want to see revealed?" Jane points to the road in front of them. "This is the road you want me to take. I know about the wreck, but I still want to see what I am up against. Show me this one." Sticking out her hand, Jane gave the old man back his cane. Taking a few steps forward, he made his way to the crossroad of both paths. As he reached his hands towards the sky, he was surrounded by a bright red glow. Holding the cane with both hands, the old man chanted as he struck the road with the tip of the cane. Jane watched in awe as the scenery around them was completely transformed.
  

• The More Things Change, by thatLONERchick (COMPLETE!): “So how’re things going with you two?” Daria smiled and adjusted the blanket draped over her shoulder. She looked tired, but contented; the lines around her eyes added character rather than age. “You know how it is. Early mornings, late nights– one of the perils of marrying a research scientist.” Jane chased the face of the two-year-old boy she was looking after with a baby wipe, meaning to clean pureed pears from around his mouth. Finally she succeeded by pulling a second wipe from the container and executed a pincer attack on the unsuspecting toddler. He pouted tolerantly, liberated the spoon Jane had abandoned and proceed to beat everything in sight. “What’s he working on that keeps him at the lab so long?”
  
• Paintslinger Girl, by Wraith (COMPLETE!): If she hadn't read the paperwork before hand, Claire never would have been able to guess that the girl in the bed in front of her in the ICU was ten years old. The soft beeps of the various monitoring equipment hooked up to the girl were the only signs she was alive and not the dessicated mummy she appeared to be. The girl's short black hair stood in vivid contrast to the pale skin that clearly showed the outline of every bone. Here and there, the sterile white of bandages contrasted with the pasty white of the skin. A soft voice intruded on her thoughts. "Ms. Defoe? I'm Dr. Gherardo Napolitano. I'm the one in charge of Jane's case." After shaking her hand, he added, "We should talk in my office. I don't want to risk disturbing her." (Daria/Gunslinger Girl)
• NEW! That Infernal Nonsense, by Ajar (continued): "I am the queenmost of the bee / The cutest of all clubs' V.P. / Cool and primped but not too showy." "And we are her Jamie, and her Jeffy and her Joey." "I thought you were Jerome." "And we are her Jamie and her Jeffy and Jerome." (Daria/H.M.S. Pinafore)
  

• The Truth Behind... The Devil and ?, by Ken T (COMPLETE!): [Another tale from the archives is revealed to the world!]
• The Truth Behind... La Femme in Hunting, by Ken T (COMPLETE!): [Another tale from the archives is revealed to the world!]
• The Truth Behind... The Visitor, by Ken T (COMPLETE!): [Another tale from the archives is revealed to the world!]
• The Truth Behind... Tre Chic Mistique, by Ken T (COMPLETE!): [Another tale from the archives is revealed to the world!]
• The Truth Behind... The Watchers, by Ken T (COMPLETE!): [Another tale from the archives is revealed to the world!]
• Unnamed story (Crossovers Still Crossing Over), by LSauchelli (COMPLETE!): Daria and Jane were sitting on the middle of the park. Both looked comfortable enough staring at the clouds while they filled their bellies with a home-made pizza. “You know, Daria, I never expected your culinary skills to be this good,” Jane said as she tasted the last bit of the slice she had been eating. “Why do you never cook anyway?” “It’s boring,” her friend replied. Like it was simplicity itself. Jane rubbed her chin as she silently stole another slice, “you think everything is boring.” “Because everything is boring,” Daria said. “Well, isn’t that a beautiful stance in life?” (Daria/Street Fighter videogame)
  

• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Modern Day Daria), by LSauchelli (COMPLETE!): Daria smiled to herself as she received a notification at her e-mail box that another gullible idiot at Lawndale High had fallen victim to her scheme. "Ah, Kevin Thompson, we meet again," she said in her usual monotone. Jane raised an eyebrow, "What are you doing now?" she asked, not bothering to look up from Wacom tablet-screen. "And what's got our local QB have anything to do with that?" Daria blinked. "Did I say that aloud?" she asked, putting her iPad down. "Nothing important, really." Jane put her stylus down and frowned at her friend. "What'cha scheming?"
  
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: The Objectivization of Women), by Charles RB (COMPLETE!): "I'd like to know what 'actualizing your potential' means." "It's meaningless babble by the oppressives, trying to force you into conventionalism," muttered the girl behind her. "Now I want to know what that means." "He is attempting to force us into society's boxes and to ignore our own interests, to make us one of the boring, lower people." There was a manic light in her eyes, like when Quinn had found out about a half-price sale with only an hour left. "Well, I'm going to follow my interests in this class. I'm going to sleep." She did. (Daria/Ayn Rand)

• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: The Objectivization of Women), by Smileyfax (COMPLETE!): "Hold on a second, Jane." Jane and her new friend Daria were walking home after meeting at the after-school self esteem class run by Mr. O'Neill. They had just been discussing nocturnal emissions when Daria had spotted a toddler with a lollipop almost larger than her head, cheerfully standing on the sidewalk and taking the occasional lick. Curiosity shifted into disbelief, then horror as Daria grabbed the confection out of the tot's hand and (after taking a lick for herself) shoving her to the ground. (Daria/Objectivism)
  
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Twins), by Charles RB (COMPLETE!): The car opened and a short, plain looking girl stepped out. She was dressed in the latest style, her hair was well-styled, her whole look screamed "innocent and cute" - but this was still a plain girl, dressing above her station. No threat. "You look cool! What's your name?" asked Stacy, gravitating towards the new arrival like she always did. "Quinn," said the fish, and her voice was weird - flat, even though she was being perky. A non-entity. "Good choice of clothing," said Sandi, "it obscures any flaws you have. Come along, Stacy..." "Dar-eeeeee-ah!" yelled Quinn at the car, "come on already!" Unnoticed by Sandi, one of the Three J's had gravitated towards Quinn.
• NEW! Unnamed story (Scenes No Daria Fanfic Should Have: Ouch Time), by thatLONERchick (COMPLETE!): Jane wandered toward her friend's room with a frown, confused and a little worried that the girl had asked her to rush over at nearly ten in the evening. More disturbing still was the fact that the house was empty, the front door standing slightly ajar at this time of night. Jane reached out one hand. Her middle finger touched Daria's bedroom door, which swung inward with a forlorn creak. The light was out, the only illumination from the computer screen. The room stood empty. Dread flooded Jane's body and weighed down her limbs as she moved to look at the screen. A word processing document had been left open, a single line stretched across the center of the page.
  

• Victory... Damn It! by OverlordMikey (COMPLETE!): "Come on, Daria, it's just one after-school club." "And history class is now supposed to be 'pro-war'." "Mr. DeMartino is bound to have a heart attack in his attempts to spin World War Two as a good thing. They've started a pool. I'm in for the fifth of next month." "Put me for the fourth," Daria said as she handed Jane some money. "And I'm watching you, Sticky Fingers."
• The Virtue of Cynicism, by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): Daria and Jane walked were walking back home from school. It was a cold, humorless Fall day with not as much as a cloud to add character to a lifeless gray and unforgiving sky. "So anyway, Daria, how come you didn't say something when Brittany was eating that sausage during lunch and Kevin said, 'Are you going to eat that?' That's the time when I know you're going to say something funny." "Kevin's stupidity is a burden enough. No sense in me adding to it. It would have gone right over his hamster-sized brain." "Wow," said Jane, "you're being uncharacteristically charitable." "You can blame that on my reading of Atlas Shrugged," Daria said.
  
• The Vision of the Burning Cities, by jtranser (continued): It had been a pleasant evening at her parent's old house and Daria had a chance to meet the new neighbors next door on their patio. They were an older couple, Joe and Clara Bacher. He was a retired civil servant and she was active in numerous local knitting and quilting groups. They seemed pleasant enough and it was a nice contrast to listening to Dad's tirade about his college alumni association hitting him up for a donation and Mom arguing on the phone about a court date.

• A Work in Progress, Subject to Revision: Jane, I have a cunning plan..., by Chris Tucker (COMPLETE!): "My lord, Daria, you are positively chipper this morning. Right! Who are you and what have you done with the Morgendorffer girl!" "Last day of high school, remember?" "Oh, yeah. YIPPEE! WAHOO! Hold my stuff while I cartwheel with gay abandon." "Your glum tone of voice belies the exuberance of your words. Something bothering you?" Daria put a hand on her friend's arm and stopped walking. Being late for the last day of high school was not something she was particularly concerned about. "Come on, spill it, Lane!"
  

A Holiday for Hot Chocolate, Anyone?

Care for a cup of hot chocolate? If you lived in Palau-de-Cerdagne, France, today you could celebrate Xicolatada, a holiday named for an Aztec/Spanish word for chocolate. Starting at 11 a.m., local time, the townspeople and tourists do nothing but drink hot chocolate the rest of the day, each cup prepared by the finest chefs (see at right). Here is an article in French about it, and here is a picture. (If you are going to celebrate this day, you should do it in style from now on.)

Eighty years ago today, the first-ever animated cartoon done with sound and shot in Technicolor was released: "Fiddlesticks." It can be seen in its entirety on YouTube. This of course led to Daria, and for that we honor it.

Singer/actress Madonna turns 52 today. Kemical Reaxion did a special series of Daria fan art based on Madonna's many incarnations: "The Ten Faces of Madonna." We also have official MTV alter egos of Brittany as Madonna, Helen as Madonna, and Ms. Li as Madonna, so you see how important Madonna is to Daria fandom. Remember that.

NEWWZ!

• Film Freak Central has a review of the Daria DVD set that makes some interesting assertions about the show. Do you think Daria prevented Jane from maturing? The reviewer thinks so. Post your comments in this thread.
  

Vive le Brittany!

Today is Bastille Day, as Brittany so ably reminds all Francophiles, but it is also the 13th premiere anniversary of "The Teachings of Don Jake" and the 11th premiere anniversary of "Lane Miserables." Good stuff all around. I am not sure how we could celebrate all three of these events at once, but I am sure there will be found a way in this fandom.

PLUS, it is the 99th birthday anniversary for William Hanna, of Hanna-Barbera cartoons (now owned by Warner Brothers), and National Nude Day (sorry, no images—oh, fine, okay, just one image—click here).

Still running behind. Moar l8r. Okay, now it's l8r, and it's time for...

N00OoZ!

• An alert reader has pointed us toward another snarky Jezebel.com essay on Daria. I will collect these and add them to the Director4y at left before too long. Thank you!
• The Midwest DariaCon 2010 is One Month Away! Click on the link and make your travel plans.
• A DariaCon in Europe in October? Could be possible. Read and sign up, then get your tickets.
• NEW! C.E. Forman continues to thrill and amaze with his display of Daria collectibles. Oh, my kingdom for the life-size Jane RealDoll with the power drill! God bless America!
• NEW! Chris Tucker is still looking for air vents in Daria's room. No, seriously. Great thread.
  

And we will also attempt to fill out the extremely late list of Daria fanfiction, about three or four days overdue. My apologies for this tardiness. Keep checking in throughout the day as I add more stuff, and feel free to suggest or correct anything you see here. (All done now.)

FF.net (COMPLETE AT LAST!)

• College Wry, by LibertyxIsxLove (Part 4): Quinn cleared her throat. "So... er, we were gonna talk about Tiffany?" "Oh, right! You said she was in with a bad crowd or something?" Sandi was making an effort to be involved, but her eyelids were slowly drooping. "We don't know exactly," Quinn admitted. "But you know how it's been, she keeps not showing up when we make plans, and acts all secretive when we ask her about it. Plus, she started painting her nails gray." Stacy cringed and Sandi sighed, "I noticed that." She leaned in closer to Quinn. "The last time I was at her house, she had three bottles of Juicy perfume, and she hadn't opened any of them. They were just lying around like... like garbage!" "Those poor Juicy bottles!" Stacy grieved.
  
• The Daria Daze, by Kurt Dale (Parts 1 and 2): Daria could still taste the cheesy delight on her tongue as she lazily heaved her suitcase onto the bed. Her black, circular glasses falling to the edge of her nose, the usual sigh ensued. This was it. Daria was going to college, it was a chance to make new friends, stop being anti-social, have a real go at life. Daria's lip twitched at the thought that even she knew this wouldn't happen. Picking up a tattered, dog-eared copy of Jane Eyre and a demo tape made by Mystik Spiral, Daria wondered what would her new accommodation would be like, she imagined four walls, a perky blonde roommate, various undergarments strewn about the room, in her imagination she added some rough furniture and a computer. A drab visage. Daria liked the thought of a nice, normal, quiet dorm. Minus the blonde.
• The InDark, by Mediancat (Parts 26 and 27): Flattop had been looking for about forty-five minutes. It was an airport, so he was expecting this. He'd moved past the United Terminal and had to veer around a major scene – four beings, magic in some way, had killed themselves in the middle of things. All this security here meant there'd be less elsewhere. Good news for him. Still, he didn't breathe easy until he was past the dopes from security. Bunch of would-be flatfoots, the lot of them, but that didn't mean one of them might not see him and figure out something was going on. Up ahead, in the distance, he saw a dame that looked like his target. He kept her in sight but far enough back so she wouldn't catch wise. (Daria/ Buffy tVS/ Angel/ Dick Tracy)
  

PPMB

• Behind the Scenes in a Daria Fanfic, by Chris Tucker (COMPLETE!): "Yo, Daria, you in there?" A monotone mumble came from behind the bedroom door. "I'll take that as a yes." said Jane as she pushed open the door. "What's up, amiga... OHMYGOD! What happened to you? You look like crap on a crap cracker"! Jane was being kind. Daria, sitting on the side of her bed, looked exhausted. Her normally shiny auburn hair was lank and greasy and limp. She smelled bad. Her skin was pale and sweaty. A bucket was at her feet. "It was another fanfic, Jane." "Oh, dear lord! Was there... 'inappropriate touching'?"
• Crawly Things in the Night, by Ticknart (COMPLETE!): Dearest Friends (and others), From the ashes, like the phoenix of old, JaneCam rises again! With a new webcam and a domain all its own, this'll be the best JaneCam until the next version hits the web, after my first million. Until that time comes, tell your friends, and other people you've met at your fancy colleges, to come, visit, click, watch, enjoy, and pay me money. After all, you're my friends and if I can't exploit you and your connections to people I never have to, or want to, meet, what good are you? Jane Lane, Founder of the soon to be most popular site on the web!
• Daria/Dorian 4—Partner's Compromise, by LadieT (Part 4): arrived, Jodie was rubbing Mack's back as he buried his face in his hands. Jodie offered Dorian and Jane the other half of their booth. Mack looked up at them. "I would ask how your project is going but I have a strange feeling I already know the answer," Jane said before taking her first bite.
• Daria: Hunter 6—Infectious (continued): Daria bellowed anger and frustration as she clawed savagely at the elevator door with her blade. Long, deep scratches were left behind after every hit, but it was obvious even through the red haze over her vision that it would take hours to make any real progress, and by then the mono-edge would most likely be dulled down to the sharpness of a basic kitchen knife. She leaned back and gave the stubborn door one last solid kick, then stood huffing as she tried to calm herself down. "So that's it, then," she heard Mack say behind her. "We're dead."
• Finn Morgendorffer 53: Purely Magnetic, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 1): “Wow, I should come over here more often, Rebecca,” Doctor Cecil Aismuth remarked as he tastefully sipped the concoction in a martini glass. “Don’t get comfortable, you’re here for a reason,” Rebecca Crossan returned. “Mrs. Truesdale is one of the most influential women in this country, and she is an incurable nymphomaniac. I’m giving her quite a selection of man-meat to ogle over.” “Yeah, have I mentioned there is so much wrong with this. To start with, I have a girlfriend who is, in fact, here with us tonight. Second, even if her husband is not here, she’s married. Third, you’re also including your own brother in this display.”
  
• First Born, by RLobinske (Part 5): The old friends watched an old Sick, Sad World episode on a big-screen television in the living room. The announcer said, ” This is just astounding! Here you are, blind, deaf, and barely able to walk, yet you conducted simultaneous affairs with three members of the Royal Family!", followed by the same voice, slightly older, saying, "And the Royal Family must not be able to smell because he reeked!" Laughing, Jane said, "I love the commentary tracks on these DVDs."
  
• General Semantics, Private Angst, by Gwrtheyrn (continued): "There had been a plot to dispense with me," said 'X.' "That couldn't be tolerated, so I've had to take certain unpleasant steps." "You're talking," Jane rasped out, "but you're not saying much. Better make me happy, 'X.' You know I'd love to kill you." She kept the flashlight trained on the cripple's prone form. There was no need to narrow the distance between them. Jane was a very good shot, not that it mattered with a weapon such as the one she held. "I am not at all trying to deceive you, Jane," the horror replied, reasonably. "Whatever else happens, it is vital that I survive, if I am to protect the Solar System during the invasion, and preserve what can be preserved of the null-A way of life." The enormity of that claim almost took Jane's breath away, but she kept her aim steady. "So, then, who was that, in this very room, talking about murdering thirty million Martians?" (Daria/World of Null-A)
• The Hallowed Halls of Fielding, by Roentgen (Part 43): When Quinn Morgendorffer returned in January for her final week at home before the beginning of Spring Term, she expected that Jill Yardborough would be waiting there with a list of recriminations. Two days before her return to Lawndale, she was seriously dreading coming home and meeting Jill again. Quinn had already started work on her speech. ("Jill, she forced me into the car! I didn't mean to leave you behind! But it was my grandmother and she's lonely and she's missing a kidney and she's...!") Quinn never got started.
  
• Jane Lane, Ace Attorney: Turnabout Teacher's Pet, by LSauchelli (COMPLETE!): It had been two months since the Brittany case and Jane had yet to get first seat again. The whole time she had expected to meet with Daria to catch up on old times, or something, but she had not seen her since that day, at least not in person. The media went nuts with praise at the young and wise prosecutor who deduced the innocence of the cheerleader in a matter of minutes into the case. There was no mention of myself, not a one, Jane thought as she sniffed herself. I might need to buy some new deodorant or something. Perhaps that’s the trick to Daria’s success. (Daria/Ace Attorney game)
• Judith Strikes! A View from the Front Row, by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): There was silence in the unoccupied classroom. A blue light appeared in the back of the room, and coalesced into the form of a petite young woman, her face almost totally obscured by the red cloak she wore. The young woman reached back into the cloak, as if she were searching, when the door to the front of the classroom opened and a forty-something man, wearing blue slacks and a pinkish, button-down shirt, entered the room. The door closed behind him on its own several seconds after the man’s entrance, and he stood behind the desk as he turned to face the intruder.
• Life, But Not As You Know It, by Phoenix (Part 3): Elsie tapped her foot impatiently on the linoleum floor of the principal’s waiting room. The young secretary behind the desk shot Elsie a silent plea for her to cut it out. The secretary sighed, “Ms. Li will be with you shortly.” Elsie nodded. She was due to take the school tour and by the looks of it she was going to be the only student. A few short minutes later the intercom buzzed, and the secretary informed Elsie that Ms. Li was now available. As she entered the principal’s office, her eyes fell on the short, stocky woman sitting behind a large oak desk. Ms. Li gave a tight smile and ushered Elsie to take a seat. Once seated, Ms. Li gave Elsie an appraising look. “Elsie Sloane...” Ms. Li mused in an airy tone. Elsie’s brow stitched itself into a bemused frown. “Ms. Li?” (FF.net)
  
• A New Set of Rules, by Dennis (Part 15): Monday was a classical concert at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, which Bryce enjoyed more that Daria did, and Thursday, a pleasantly warm day, was a picnic on one of the greens followed by a long walk around campus and a not-quite-but-almost-public make out session that had Daria questioning her sanity. She mentioned it to Colleen the next day, but the redhead laughed off her concerns. “I don't see why this bothers you. So you made out with a guy somewhere that someone might have seen you.” “It's not the sort of thing I do,” Daria said stiffly.
• Politricks Are Not for Kids, by Brian Taylor (Part 6): We hear a mechanical revving, fierce and intractable. The door to Jane's office bursts back open to reveal Jane wearing a welder's mask and a rubber apron, clutching a revving chainsaw between gloved hands. [I would have added more, but there was too much win. Must read.]
• Raft College: The First Year, by rglovejoy (Part 16): Daria stood quietly outside Terminal E's security checkpoint. Jane's flight was supposed to have already arrived: it said so on the arrivals/departures monitor next to the Southwest Airlines ticket counters. She wanted to duck into the newsstand to relieve the boredom of waiting, but she didn't want to miss seeing her friend. Jane had called her during lunch, to tell her that Trent was driving her to BWI Airport and that her flight was supposed to get in around 5:30. It was now a little after six. Daria was very much looking forward to seeing her. It had been over a month since she last saw Jane. Although they often emailed each other and talked on the phone, it wasn't the same as being together. Daria was not the mushy sort, but she did miss Jane tremendously.
  
• Regifted 2: I Put Away Joyless Things, by Ajar (Part 9): “Oh, hi,” said Mr. O'Neill. “I'm sorry if I'm interrupting, but I thought you might want your papers back. Some of you are really improving. One more B-plus for you, Sandi. You've been on quite a roll the last few weeks. At this rate you might even break a B in the course. Good for you.” “What's with all the B-plusses all of a sudden?” asked Quinn as Mr. O'Neill moved on. “You're not the only one smart around here. Some of us just keep it to ourselves.” “But he said you only might get a B.” “You don't want to do too well. I mean you don't want to end up at that school where your sist—I mean, cousin goes.”
• That Infernal Nonsense, by Ajar (continued): "Sir, are you okay? The glaz-ed layering of moisture gleam, that covers all your eyeball proclaims a confusion more deep than normal; confide in me—fear not—you won't seem too dumb." "Yeah, Mack Daddy, er... bro, I just don't get it..."
  
• Three-Edged Sword, by NightGoblyn (Part 4): Daria sat alone in a small booth in the back of the restaurant, listening to the thumping music and breathing the mixed smells of cooking meat, spilled beer, and cigarette smoke. Her reverie was interrupted when a waitress approached, plunking a couple of baskets of chicken wings on the table followed by two tall, sweating glasses of beer. Tossing the tray onto a nearby empty table, the waitress then sat across from her. "Are you allowed to do that?" Daria asked. Sandi shrugged. "It's the end of my shift, I've already clocked out. Also, the manager here is very good to me."
• Unnamed story (Behind the Scenes in a Daria Fanfic), by Charles RB (COMPLETE!): "Personally, I think the attention to symbolism and superior mis en scene make the third Care Bear movie the best," said Judith, daintily sipping tea from a china cup. "But look," protested Tommy Sherman, "the story of the first was a primal archetype, Campbell himself—"
• Unnamed story (Behind the Scenes in a Daria Fanfic), by Dark Kuno (COMPLETE!): This is going to look really cute on Quinn later tonight, Stacy thought as she removed the dog color, folded the it and placed it into a small leather-bound case between the Italian leather riding crop, Gucci handcuffs with chinchilla fur lining and a length of fine silk rope.
• Unnamed story (Behind the Scenes in a Daria Fanfic), by rglovejoy (COMPLETE!): Sandi Griffin sat sulking in the back seat, while her parents talked quietly in the front. The only good thing about her family's visit with her Uncle Peter and the other Rhode Island Griffins was that it was over.
  
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Crossover the Pond), by Dennis (COMPLETE!): "Hello and welcome. We have with us today one of the country's leading teen clothing analysts, Sandi Griffin." "Like, that's not my name!" "I'm sorry. Sandi Gry-fin." "No, no. It's like spelled Sandi Gry-fin, but it's pronounced Cheddar Cheese Percolator." (Daria/Monty Python's Flying Circus)
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Crossover the Pond), by Greystar (COMPLETE!): "And now for something completely different..."(Daria/Monty Python's Flying Circus)
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Crossover the Pond), by Jim North (COMPLETE!): "Well, that was all good fun, and we all had a jolly good laugh, but I would like to assure you that you'd never be treated like that if you had an interview to be a girly lumberjack here at the Careers Advisory Board. Perhaps I should introduce myself. I am the Head of the Careers Advisory Board. I wanted to be a psychologist, but there we are. I'm Head of the Careers Advisory Board."(Daria/Monty Python's Flying Circus)
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Crossover the Pond), by Lord Akiyama (COMPLETE!): "No lasagna tonight for dinner? What's the occasion?" "You're father lost a client today." "I don't care that they found nine out of ten British housewives to say otherwise, I can tell the difference between Whizzo Butter and a dead crab. How can you market a thing like that? And what in the world was he talking about when he said that it also contained ten percent more less?"(Daria/Monty Python's Flying Circus)
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Crossover the Pond), by Raskolnikov (COMPLETE!): "Damn it!" "What's wrong, amiga?" "This stupid computer is crashing spontaneously again! It's the tenth time this morning!" "Oh, only that? I thought it was something important." "Ha, ha. Very funny. I hope you'll be as clever as you are now with my replacement, since I'm going most surely to be sacked if I can't deliver this before noon!" (Daria/The IT Crowd)
  
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Crossover the Pond), by rglovejoy (COMPLETE!): [Too short to sample!](Daria/The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin)
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Crossover the Pond), by rglovejoy (COMPLETE!): "Tom, I'll trade you this cockroach cluster for your anthrax ripple." (Daria/Monty Python's Flying Circus)
• Unnamed story (More Crossovers Not Yet Crossed Over), by Wraith (fragment): "Hey, Janet." "Yes, Skinny?" "I've got something to say." "Out with it." "I really love the... skillful way you beat the other girls to the bride's bouquet." (Daria/Rocky Horror Picture Show)
• Unnamed story (More Crossovers Not Yet Crossed Over), by Wraith (fragment): Daria attended the education sessions because she wanted to find out why so many people were working so hard to kill her. A handful of others were also interested, and the questions were many and good when Jodie and the subversive corporal finished and made the mistake of asking if there were any. "Who is Spain?” “Why is Hitler?” “When is right?” (Daria/Catch-22)
• The Vision of the Burning Cities, by jtranser (continued): "'Daria, am I going crazy?" "Stacy, let me check your test results. First, elevator mobility: definitely goes to all floors. Second, your skull X-rays: No detectable presence of strudel in noodle. Third, presence of mind: still there. So, the answer to your question is no." Stacy relaxed slightly, then her innate anxiety resurfaced, focusing on another medical predicament: "I swear if this continues, I'm going to have a heart attack!! I mean it feels like I have runaway tachycardia!!!" "I believe you lack a basic understanding of heart function, Stacy. See, the heart is like a cheap blood-filled squeeze toy that progressively decays as the foam rubber hardens, clogs up with crap, then begins to split." "Eeewww!!" "But, in your case, that hasn't happened. So no, no heart attack."
  
• The White Fox, by Lord Akiyama (Part 2): "Okay, Daria," she muttered to herself. This was in spite of the heavy breathing she was making. "Don't panic. There's nothing to worry about. This all just a dream. Just like Holiday Island. This is not real. It's just a dream." It was then that Daria tried to get up. Only to find that she couldn't. As a matter of fact, she could barely move at all. She looked to discover the reason for this. She was bound to a chair. Ropes tied to ensure that she remained in her seat at all times. Her legs tied to the legs of the chair, her hands tied from behind. The knots were of an advanced skill, thereby preventing her from even wiggling. [Contains mature content]
  

The Sap of "Sappy Anniversary"?

Noak Barkman, a figure who rarely appears in Daria fanfiction, the whiz kid of Buzzdome-dot-com in "Sappy Anniversary." A smart entrepreneur or another washout when the dot-com bubble burst? More fanfiction would help decide the issue. "Sappy Anniversary" debuted nine years ago today on MTV.

Famous, relevant birthdays today: Tex Avery, who lifted the animated medium to new heights, was born 102 years ago; and Levi Strauss, who gave us blue jeans (so Daria had something to wear in "Road Worrier") appeared 181 years ago. Well done.

Kemical Reaxion is back! And she's unveiled a great new version of Quinn, drawn in the style of a famous 20th-century pop artist. See if the image looks vaguely familiar...

PPMB

• Falling into College 72: Valley of Love and Delight, by RLobinske (Part 9): While Quinn and Jake were looking around the store, Jane was pleasantly surprised to hear the door open for another customer. She was more surprised to see who was there. "Tom Sloane?" "Jane Lane," he said, walking in and letting the door close. I heard through the grapevine that you were back in town."
  
• Folie à deux, by Charliefox2012 (Part 3): “Darla!” Quinn snapped. “Evie!” Evie corrected sharply. Daria sighed, irritated. “Both of you quit it. Or, I’m going to make sure you both have accidents concerning the stairs.” “Whoa, death threats. What did we do to you?” Evie said surprised.
  
• The Hallowed Halls of Fielding, by Roentgen (Part 8): "Quinn - that is, if I might call you Quinn? Got to move quickly in this world you know, fast friends and all that? Anyways, Mater and Pater were thinking of taking the old wooden scow out to sea in Crabtown. With fall break coming up, let me say that you would be definitely invited—hee hee— 'on board' as they say, nautically. The sea salt is good for your skin, or so they say. Not that you'd need it of course, but you know, 'every little bit'. And there are definitely places to eat and things to see along the meandering path."
• Into the Fray, by Minx (Chapter 3): Quinn lay still for a moment before saying, “Don’t you think it’s a little weird?” “What?” Daria replied. “The way everyone is carrying on as if nothing happened. Do you think that maybe they don’t know?” [More here!] (FF.net)
  

Aftershocks

It is today the 101st anniversary of the moment when Émile Cohl released the first-ever animated movie: Fantasmagorie, which debuted in Paris. (More of the Daria-French Connection!) To this little silent cartoon does Daria and all other animation we know and love today owe their very existence. Merci!

This is also the 10th (MINUS ONE DAY!) anniversary of the release of "Jane's Addition," the episode in which we first meet Tom Sloane. The shockwaves are still being felt to this day. The amusing "outtake" image of the participants in The Triangle, goofing off between filming, comes to us from Is It Fall Yet? Yes, it's just a cartoon, but you know how cranky fans get.

Stay tooned.

P.S. Late Add: Sorry, but Tuesday is the 10th anniversary of "Jane's Addition." I blame drugs for the error.

Another Good Reason to Go to France

Today marks a little-known holiday celebrated in the town of Palau-de-Cerdagne, France, on the border with Spain in the Pyrenees. Xicolatada (from an Aztec/Spanish word) is a festival in which the townspeople do nothing but drink hot chocolate all day, starting at 11 a.m. I know it sounds like I am lying (I'm not this time, I swear, honest!), but here is an article in French about it, and here is a picture. (I suppose if you are going to celebrate this day from now on, you should do it in style.) This kid is an exchange student worth getting to know at Holiday Island High!

Seventy-nine years ago today, the first-ever animated cartoon done with sound and shot in Technicolor was released: "Fiddlesticks." It can be seen in its entirety on YouTube. This of course led to Daria, today, and for that we honor it.

Singer/actress Madonna turns 51 today. Kemical Reaxion did a special series of Daria fan art based on Madonna's many incarnations. "The Ten Faces of Madonna" is a marvel to behold. We also have an official MTV alter ego of Brittany as Madonna, one of Helen as Madonna, one of Ms. Li as Madonna (as someone else), etc., so you see how important Madonna is to Daria fandom.

MOAR No0OZ!

• Updated versions of The Head and IIFY? Guy are ready for your inspection at Backgrounders.
  

FF.net

• The Request, by Quinnley1 (Parts 1 through 8): “Dar-ia! I hope you’re not planning on sleeping until noon every day during summer break. Time to get up and at least pretend that you are in training to be a productive member of society!”
• True Crud, by Pinkminx (Part 1): [The intriguing Daria/True Blood crossover found here on PPMB.]
  

PPMB

• Rolling the Dice, by Ajar (Part 3): “Hello again,” said Jane with false enthusiasm. “It's so nice for you to include me in all these Fashion Club meetings. But, at this point, you might want to change the name to the D20 Club.”
• Stacy Rowe, Seeker (Part II), by jtranser (COMPLETE!): According to the Maya, the tree Chacchokal has always existed and was there when the Maya first entered the forest of Chakur. In their belief system, this unique Ceiba tree connects the Heavens, Earth and the Underworld and binds them all together as the Universe of the Fifth Sun. [Now waiting for Part III!]
  
• Unnamed story (Crossovers Not Yet Crossed Over), by Richard Lobinske (Part 1): "Hi! You're cool. What's your name?" "Daria. Daria Morgendorffer." "Cool name." "Will you go out with me?"
  
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Daria Kills Jane, or Vice Versa...), by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): Jane felt the ringing in her ears clearing up, well enough for her to hear the chanting of the Lawndale residents...