Do Tramps Have Low Self-Esteem?

Looks like Mr. O'Neill found a new way to act the fool, but at least with Charlie Chaplin the act was truly an act, not reality. The silent film star was born on this day in 1889, and entertained far more people without speaking than the teacher could ever hope for by opening his mouth.

However, today is not a day for silent films, because it's also World Voice Day and talkies are now a thing. I suppose Stacy could celebrate by "accidentally" cursing Sandi with laryngitis again, because Sandi's silence was sure a pleasant time for the whole Fashion Club.

Somebody should let Jake know that it's National Stress Awareness Day, because it might be good to check in on his mental health status. Then again, perhaps that's a bad idea: "Why do people keep telling me I'm stressed? If I weren't stressed, I'd get stressed by everyone telling me I'm stressed!"

The (Not-So) Great Educator

Mr. O'Neill's hoping that if he dresses as Charlie Chaplin on the comedian's birthday, then maybe it will feel like his students are laughing with him, not at him. (Spoiler alert: they're not laughing with him.)

Today is also National Stress Awareness Day, so be sure to tell Jake that you're aware of his stress. "Stressed? Why do people keep telling me I'm stressed? If I weren't stressed, I'd get stressed by everyone telling me I'm stressed!"

Fanfic Update!

• Daria of Morsang-sur-Orge, by Rémi (part 13): "Roland took seriously his promise of helping Daria to study, as he apparently took seriously any duty he accepted. In fact, « serious » and « dutiful » were the two words coming to Daria’s mind when she thought about the paladin."


• Farewell, by browneyedbagel (COMPLETE!): "'I’ve been told that art is subjective. You can hang a painting on a wall for fifty people to look at, and it’s very reasonable to assume that there will be fifty different points of view about the significance of the art.'"


• Unnamed story (The 1002 Deaths of Tom Sloane), by Lady Evil (part 1): "Tom Sloane woke to a feeling of blood rushing to his head. 'Where am I?' he groaned."

Shhhhhh!

Mr. O'Neill is portraying silent film star Charlie Chaplin in honor of the man's birth on this day in 1889. I have to say, this is one of my favorite alter egos of O'Neill. Not because the two have anything in common, but because can you imagine a silent Mr. O'Neill? It would be heaven.

I'd also just like to point out that today is National Librarian Day, so if you'd like to buy any gifts for a librarian you know (cough, cough), then this would be a good opportunity.

Fandom News!

• View and discuss the new trailer for Star Wars Episode IX.


• TheBrodsterBoy wonders what episodes of South Park he should watch.


• Talk about why we write (and draw).


• Shiva posted a new art Iron Chef: Mecha Ensign Daria Art.


• TheBrodsterBoy posted a new Iron Chef in the Creative Writing forum: Blank Brittany.


• Discuss the burning of the Notre Dame Cathedral.

The Little Imitator

Mr. O'Neill is about the last person I'd expect to portray Charlie Chaplin on the anniversary of his birth in 1889. For one thing, Chaplin was funny on purpose.

Also, happy Easter to everyone who celebrates it! Please enjoy this list of Easter treats courtesy of the Sh33p's Fluff website:

• Cotton-tail Lane by Deref


• An Easter Gift by Deref


• Colorful by Thea_Zara


• Easter Eggs Need Color by Brandon League


• Where Kisses Come From by Thea_Zara


• I Saw Mommy... by Thea_Zara


• What's In a Name? by Wyvern


• Egg-citement by Thea_Zara


• Eggcelent by Steven Galloway


• Hunt by Roger Moore


• Bunnies by Tafka


• Springtime Daria by Tafka


• Peeps by Isa Yo-Jo


• Daria's Easter Bonnet by Thea_Zara


• Quinn's First Easter Egg by Angelinhel


• Eggs-communicated by Milderbeast


• Easter Encounter by Richard Lobinske


• An Easter Treat by Deref

Fandom News!

• MartinUK offers debugging info from the latest PPMB issues.


• Discuss the recent passing of Charlie Murphy.


• Szcz posted two new Iron Chefs in Creative Writing: Daria and Helen have the same age and Lanes' Dark Reflection.

The Great Educator

Happy birthday to The Tramp! Settle down, Quinn, no one's talking about anyone in the Fashion Club. It was on this day in 1889 that Charlie Chaplin was born! Mr. O'Neill only wishes he were as talented as Chaplin.

We also celebrate National Stress Awareness Day today, and Jake has a public service announcement for us: "Stressed? Why do people keep telling me I'm stressed? If I weren't stressed, I'd get stressed by everyone telling me I'm stressed!"

Fanfic Update!

• Angela Li's Date in 98 (Scenes No Daria Fan-Fic Should Have: No longer in the 1%), by Shiva (COMPLETE!): "'I must admit Ms. Li,' Karl Rove said to his lovely middle-aged Asian companion during a light brunch at The Settlement, 'by the time I finished your opinion piece I was stunned. Finally there was another human being who thought just like me.'"


• Mine, by Vukodlak (part 6): "It had been Tom who'd suggested taking them to the Zoo this weekend and like many things Daria lost interest in years ago they suddenly sounded fun if her daughter was involved."


• Unnamed story ([Iron Chef – Round Robin – Free For All] Time Loops), by Wraith (parts 5 and 6): "'Hey, Daria. Can I ask you something?' Trent asked. 'Sure, Trent.' 'Why is Janey going to BFAC again?'" (Part 6 by Brother Grimace)


• Unnamed story (Mr. O'Neill, Asshole), by Smijey (COMPLETE!): "In the audience, the gears in Mr. O'Neill's head were turning. What if he gave his students an assignment that expressly asked them to try to fail?"


• Unnamed story (1,001 Deaths of Tom Sloane - Part III), by Shiva (COMPLETE!): "'She hits me because she loves me.' Tom thought to himself, his personal chant, as blow after blow hit him." (Continued by Roentgen)


• Unnamed story (Scenes No Daria Fan-Fic Should Have: No longer in the 1%), by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): "Sandi growled and swiped away a face-full of some plant's thick, low-hanging branches and fan-like leaves as she made her way. 'How come the so-called "brain" doesn't use hers when she sees a giant jewel in the middle of the room, sitting on a silk pillow with a light over it, and realizes that she shouldn't touch it?'"


• Unnamed story (Scenes No Daria Fan-Fic Should Have: No longer in the 1%), by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): "'It's Baby Girl!' he says from across the book store and runs up to me, hugging me. Well, not so much 'hugging' as 'eclipsing' me."


• Without Warning, by SentrytheDefiant (part 7): "Jace continued to stuff his suitcase with t-shirts and boxer shorts, 'I do envy you. Do you know where I'll be this weekend? The Lane family reunion. Dozens of Lanes from all over the country converging in one Midwestern split-level to remind themselves why they scattered in the first place.'"

Happy Birthday to the Tramp!

Happy birthday to the late Charlie Chaplin, born on this day in 1889. I suppose Mr. O'Neill makes people laugh in the same way Chaplin did...but Chaplin did so intentionally.

This is also Stress Awareness Day, and Jake has the following message for us all: "Why do people keep telling me I'm stressed? If I weren't stressed, I'd get stressed by everyone telling me I'm stressed!" Nice, calming words from a Zen master.

Fanfic Update!

• ARC Ch.6 Drowned in a cappuccino, by ST91 (part 5): "'I'm sorry, I swear Andrea, I didn't want to peek, it was an accident. Those photos fell with the sheets, I took one without thinking about it.' 'Don't worry Daria, I know that you're not a busybody. Also you didn't know of the existence of those photos so you could not have taken them on purpose.'"


• The Author as a Sadomachist (Scenes No Daria Fanfic Should Ever Have: Sick, Sad Edition), by PrecambrianStudios (COMPLETE!): "'So, Daria,' her lover asked. 'What kind of toys do you have for me?'"


• Dylan, by J-D (part 19a): "It had only been because it was raining that Dylan and Rod had reluctantly accepted a ride from Ms FitzPatrick when they all came out of the movie theatre. That was just bad luck. It was more than bad luck, though, that made Ms FitzPatrick decide that having students make films of their own was Dylan's idea."


• Emory and Claire (Emory Barksdale), by Shiva (COMPLETE!): "In a room that was decked out in 'latter-day hippie', Emory Barksdale found himself naked as the day he was born, lying in bed with the sheets pulled down."


• The Great Genderswap of Lawndale!, by Shiva (part 7): "Breakfast meant having to face his family, which normally involved Quinn commenting on his choice of unhealthy morning food, his mother burying her head in the paper, and Dad in working himself up into a frenzy to get to work. Now however things had changed, though how long it would last was a matter of debate."


• Helen and the Ape, by SinisterExaggerator (part 3): "In the hospital, Jake lay propped up in a bed, and the first shards of light were beginning to pour into his mind. Coherence, however, would have to wait."


• I'm Tagging With the Band: Hiring Amy (Scenes that should be: Polite Requests), by Shiva (COMPLETE!): "It wasn't often that Amy Barksdale got an invitation to be interviewed for a publicist job, under most circumstances she would be the one to seek out the job rather than have one fall into her lap. 'Especially one that involves Mystik Spiral.'"


• Isn't It Nice to Be Home? (IC: Thank God You're Here), by SinisterExaggerator (COMPLETE!): "'Thank God you're here.' Trent's alarmed greeting surprised Jane, visiting home from the post-collegiate art circuit. For him to break the shell of lethargy that normally surrounded him in a musky haze, she knew there had to be something going on."


• Lindy's Car Crash (Scenes No Daria Fanfic Should Ever Have: Sick, Sad Edition), by Shiva (COMPLETE!): "It had looked like something from a movie, as in a brief moment of stillness Lindy saw the other car through her windshield. No matter how much she had tried to brake, there simply wasn't enough time."


• Losers No More, by Shiva (part 15): "Graham laughed nervously and shuffled his feet before saying, 'Daria, I- I'm not a good dancer.' 'I'm not a dancer at all.' She answered with a shrug. Graham's face began to fall. Daria sighed, 'Ok, we can dance a little bit.'"


• Mack is a Dick: To Tommy Sherman (IC: Mack is a Dick), by Shiva (COMPLETE!): "'That's the name. Don't wear it out. whoomp!' Tommy Sherman began to say before Mack grew sick of his arrogant mouth and socked him hard square in that busted up nose of his."


• Nurse Goodnsexy Meets the Legion! (The Adventures of Nurse Goodnsexy), by Shiva (part 1): "After a couple of days of experimentation, that funny little bracelet began to reveal some of it's delicious little secrets."


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Breakfast at Tiffany's), by Shiva (COMPLETE!): "Tiffany Blum-Deckler stood in front of the toaster, her eyes fixated on it's shininess and her reflection within it."


• Victor Morgendorffer, by Shiva (part 10): "As Victor stepped into the living room, he had a little smirk on his face as he saw Quinn whining about Daria going to that cheerleader's party to their mother, who was only half-paying attention."


• Vivian, by ST91 (part 8): "If anybody had observed Vivian's life in the last days he would have said that she was a very lucky woman."


• Yunny: DA SEECWEL, by Brain Camper (part 2): "su den duh aloons cume and dey shey bwuy yu gunna bhee shpancked"

A Tramp with Self-Esteem

Happy birthday to the late comic actor Charlie Chaplin, born on this day in 1889. O'Neill is funny in his own way, I suppose, but he's nothing like Chaplin. For starters, Chaplin meant to make people laugh at him.

Today is also National Stress Awareness Day, to which Jake replies, "Stressed? Why do people keep telling me I'm stressed? If I weren't stressed, I'd get stressed by everyone telling me I'm stressed!" Considering today is also the day after tax returns are due in the United States, I'd say there are probably a fair number of people nationwide who are very aware of their own stress right now.

Finally, today is National Librarian Day, which I only mention because certain blogger librarians might be more than happy to accept whatever gifts and other tokens of esteem you might wish to pass along in honor of the holiday. Especially if they happen to be chocolate!

Fanfic Update!

• Birthday Surprise (Iron Chef: Daria character wins lottery prize), by DeacBlue (COMPLETE!): "'So what has dear Aunt Rita done now?' She listened. 'Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Okay.' She paused. 'Well, to be quite fair, I did say all of those things. Yes, I did. I may have told them to the world's dumbest bridesmaids, and then told them that I was lying, but I did say the words.'" (Part 12)


• The Cats Will Play, by RLobinske (part 2): "'Squirrel!' Sissy meowed as she jumped up onto on of the front window sills. A gray squirrel clung to an oak tree in the front yard and stared at the window, barking. Bump jumped up to join Sissy. 'Ah, it's Spaz Tail. I wonder if Bright Ears will show.'"


• Clique Swap, by psychotol (parts 31 and 32): "Helen: Opens the door revealing Hillary Clinton and another human in a galactic empire general uniform. Hillary: 'Is Darth Maladi here?' Helen: 'Uh, yeah ... right this way.' Walks back to the kitchen with Hillary, the empire general and the cameraman following her. Jake: 'Say, is that Hillary Clinton?' Daria: 'I have a batter question: What’s happened to my sister?'" (Part 32)


• God Save The Esteem ep41: Is It Fun Yet?, by Charles RB (part 8): "The audience descended on the venue, like a great wind had blown through a particularly smelly rubbish dump. Piercings and dyed hair and leather and body odour abounded, and three friendly fights had already broken out. And out went DeMartino onto the stage, seeing all the glass bottles in the front row and his mind screaming that he better get this right, he had only one shot at this-"


• Going out for a Pizza (Iron Chef: Getting Ready for the End of the World), by Doggieboy (COMPLETE!): "The two teens jogged up to the Buick's driver's door and looked inside the window. Daria asked, 'Ma'am, are you...' Then she gawked and stared at the inside of the car. 'Whoa,' Jane said. 'Where the hell is she?' Where the elderly woman had sat behind the wheel, there only remained a light blue dress, a slightly darker blue jacket, a hat, a set of false teeth and a pair of glasses. A rubber-tipped stainless steel cane and a large-print copy of the Bible sat on the passenger seat."


• The Hallowed Bungholes (Scenes That Should Be: Breakfast of Zombie Champions), by Walter Kovacs (COMPLETE!): "Two young men in poorly fitting blazers were sitting in an auditorium watching a stern elderly gentleman lecture on about the school's honor and dignity. As was usual for those two distinguished gentlemen both would rather be watching MTV than being there."


• Lawndale School of Magic Part One: The New Kids, by Reven384 (COMPLETE!): "After Stacy left Quinn walked over to Sandi, 'What did you want to talk to me about?' 'Yes if we are to continue hanging out then I feel I must be honest. My family line traces itself back to the Dark Lady Griffin,' Sandi said waiting for the fireworks. 'So I’m Mad Dog Morgendorffer’s grandchild,' Quinn said, 'I’m surprised you told me though. I go out of my way to avoid letting anyone know who my grandfather was.'" (Part 5)


• The Mageborn Cynic, by peetz5050 (parts 4 and 5): "Daria studied the man as he berated his less-than-prepared students. The colored threads on his collar, which meant nothing and were virtually invisible to anyone less than an Archmage, were predominantly silver, which meant he was a farseer, which also meant he would have spent the mandatory ten years in the military. That would account for what happened to his eye." (Part 5


• No Esteem (IC: DeMartino and Jake swapped), by Charles RB (COMPLETE!): "'Girls, I realise it's not easy to move to a new town,' said her mother, giving nervous glances to the rearview mirror, 'but this does look nicer, doesn't it? The school seems a lot safer too, none of the- well, you know. Rough kids.' Well, we haven't arrived yet, have we?"


• A Resentful cynic ch. 2 No party . No problem, by ST91 (part 6): "While he and Jodie were walking to his Jeep, Mack asked, 'Will you accept Daria’s offer?' 'I don’t know. It depends if my parents will give me permission.' 'Jodie, please don't lie to me. You don't want to go because of Jane.' 'What ? Come on Mack don't make me laugh.' Jodie said. 'Jodie.' Mack said in a tone that brooked no argument."


• Rude Awakening Ep.10: Sandi vs The EPT, by DIsaac (part 6): "BRITTANY: Teddy, we aren't changing the subject now. What do you mean I have anger problem, Ted? TED: You tend to overreact, sometime physically, to things. BRITTANY: I don't overreact... as much as I did in high school... or in college... or with that job in Houston... or Miami... or Memphis... or Philadelphia... or Columbus... or Los Angeles... (pause) I'm not making a good case for myself right now, aren't I? TED: I wouldn't take that second career as a lawyer."


• To Annoy a Mockingbird. Chapter 05, by BF110C4 (part 6.1): "'Good morning Miss Morgendorffer, I am Doctor Amelia Northman, right now we are going to start with a physical exam, I already had Dr. Nicholson and Dr. Wheeler fax me your medical files,' ‘Both our old family doctor and gynecologist’ Daria added methodical to her description of the doctor, 'but I do find better to trust but verify, so I’ll be asking you some questions while we are doing your test, if you could please take off your jacket and put in on one of the hangers behind the curtain so we can begin?'"


• Unnamed story (Scenes no Daria fanfic should have: The Morning After), by Greystar (COMPLETE!): "'Ladies and Gentelmen, the President of the United States.' Daria looked at the television screen with a sick feeling in her bowels as Angela Li walked up to the presidential podium."


• Venus Fly Trap (IC: DeMartino and Jake swapped), by LongSnakeMoan (COMPLETE!): "Helen. Please read this. Leslie I picked it up. Plain black with a large red broken heart on the front. LOVE HURTS. Domestic Abuse is the hidden crime. Don't suffer in silence. Oh, how ridiculous. Anthony isn't abusive. Anthony is passionate, he's extreme. He loves me and the girls, he just isn't the cuddly type."

Happy Birthday, You Lovable Tramp!

Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin, better known as Charlie Chaplin, was born on this day in 1889! O'Neill is trying his best on the left, but Chaplin was way funnier. Intentionally, anyway.

Today is also Emancipation Day for Washington, D.C., commemorating the day in 1862 when Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act. Signed nine months before the more famous Emancipation Proclamation, it freed 3,100 slaves in the District of Columbia. Not a bad day's work!

Little else to note for today. Anyone else have anything they feel like sharing? Knock yourself out in the comments.

Call Me a Tramp, Will They?

Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, famed English movie actor, director, musician, and political activist, was born today 121 years ago. Mr. O'Neill does a passable impersonation of "The Tramp" at right, especially in black and white like most of Chaplin's early movies. A depiction of Jane Lane as The Tramp (ouch!) appears in the Daria's Inferno computer game (left).

This is also Emancipation Day for everyone living in Washington, D.C. Party hearty!

In The Daria Diaries, the review of Mystic Spiral in "Muck and Rage" appeared on this day, but we're not sure which year.

In my list of unfinished stories a few posts ago, I forgot one extra-good one from long ago...

• A Sarcastic Beginning, by Thea Zara: OMG, what I wouldn't give to know happened next!

And now for the fanfiction...

PPMB

• The Dream of the White Darkness, by jtranser (continued): "Damn! Jane, what did you do to yourself? Your mouth, your eyes, your whole face....hell, your whole body! You - you look glossy! You look like you've been photoshopped!"
• NEW! Falling into College: The Clip Show, by RLobinske (Part 3): Karen walked across the main Quad and said, "From time to time, we managed to have a little bit drama around here, like the first time Michael asked Daria to marry him. Nice thought, lousy timing."
  
• NEW! A Few Years Difference, by Vlora (Part 5): "Well, class, we have a special guest today," O'Neill chuckled in a way that would strip paint off walls. He looked expectantly at Daria, who was sitting in the front right corner of the room. She was busy playing with a pencil when she looked up, smiling very vaguely at the class.
  
• Finn Morgendorffer 42: The Suburban Symphony, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 7): ”I’m not done. Finn, She might be bad at times, but she’s not always. And you, of all people know this. You and Daria may have had your moments, and I’m sure it was intense. But you know, she’s helped you, too. A lot. More than you’ll admit to me.”
• MOST NEWEREST!!! Jacob Morgendorffer, Esq., by CAP (Part 8): How Vincent and Amanda could leave their children for weeks on end seemingly on a whim at times was beyond him, especially leaving them in the care of Summer, whom Jake would not have entrusted with a goldfish.
  
• NEWEREST! A New Set of Rules, by Dennis (continued): Daria hurried to the library. She was bundled up against the cold Indiana January, with heavy coat, scarf, hat, and gloves, but still the cold wind cut right through her. Classes had begun only a few days ago, but between her work and helping Kevin, she felt like she'd already fallen behind. On this chilly Friday, the library offered a needed haven, both from the cold and the chaos. Kevin was on his last round of revisions, thanks to a heroic effort on both their parts, which meant she had a day or two to herself to catch up. She yanked the door open, struggling against the wind, and all but leaped inside.
  
• Some unnamed concept that I will name later, by SigDiff (continued): “We want to make the world like it was before,” Daria continued, “only better. It has to be better, or else we'll all end up right back here, in a destroyed civilization where people barely survive off the land and children grow up without even learning to speak.”

The Tramp Lives On

Charlie Chaplin, famed English movie actor, director, musician, and political activist, was born today 119 years ago. Mr. O'Neill does a passable impersonation of "The Tramp" at right, especially in black and white, like most of Chaplin's early movies.

Today is also Emancipation Day in Washington, D.C., when all slaves in the District of Columbia were freed 146 years ago, even before the Emancipation Proclamation was put into effect. Yo!

Still not online, hope to be back shortly with a very nicely upgraded system. Never thought I'd see the day when having 1 GB RAM and a 1 GHz processor was passé.