Computers R Evil

My 'pooter lost its Internet connection yesterday, back again, sorry about the delay. This blog has previously noted that today is an important day in the Computer Age, but computers still suck when they won't work properly.

Anyway, Happy Midsummer to one and all, hope yours is a good one.

The Beavis and Butt-head episode "Babes 'R' Us" first aired on MTV 17 years ago today. It briefly featured Daria Morgendorffer snarking at B&B for being stupid, which was the case in 95% of all of Daria's appearances in that series. The scene in question later appeared as an "Easter egg" on the Is It Fall Yet? DVD.

A United Nations holiday occurs today that was probably established just for Jodie Landon. Click the link and see if you agree.

Which fanfic was conceived of ten years ago today? The answer is a tricky one.

Updates to the Midwest Dariacon 2010 thread have been posted. Please read if you plan to attend.

NEW! Erin M. discovered an avatar-maker at the website for the upcoming movie Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, so here are Daria and Jane—Pilgrimfied!

NEW! Thanks to Pittsburghmuggle, we have a DariaWiki page with all the lyrics to the songs in the third-season episode, Daria! Thank you!

EVEN NEWER! Anyone out there collect Daria memorabilia from years gone by? If so, get in touch with other collectors in this PPMB thread (and meet a Great Name of Old, too)!

AND EVEN MORE NEWER! Charles RB has created a new Iron Chef: Judith Strikes Highland!

FF.net

• NEWER! The InDark, by Mediancat (Parts 15 to 18): "About Daria—" Amy said. "That's when the yelling starts," Jane said. "Daria asked us not to yell." "I haven't yelled yet," Amy said. "Neither have I. If something you do actually gets me to raise my voice, run." Jane didn't get angry enough to scream all that often. When she did, something was very wrong. Dogs and small children fled. They were the smart ones. (Part 18 here)
  
• NEWER! Wishful Thinking, by a440 (COMPLETE!): "Don't you get it?" said Jane. "There's a legend saying that anyone that discovers that eye is granted four wishes between now and midnight." "Jane," said Daria, sounding a bit testy, "did you and Trent invent such a half-baked story like that? That is the stupidest story I've heard in years." "I ain't joking," said the black-haired Lane gal. "Try to make a wish for a test run and we'll see if the legend was right." "Anything to get you and your stinking yenta off my back," grumbled the outcast. "So, let's see, what should I wish for? Would be tough... I wish I knew what to wish for." For a moment, there was a white flash of light, and then Daria blurted out, "I know what to wish for!"
  

Outpost Daria

• A Stranger in Lawndale, by Belle Book (Part 6): Stacy thought back over the three weeks since Derek had confessed to her that he was a kitsune. For the first two or three days, she couldn't help feeling a little awkward around him. After all, she'd never gone out with an animal that could shapeshift into a human before.

PPMB

• And Another Thing, by Midnightstorm (COMPLETE!): The country club always seemed an ideal place for young love to happen. Young love, the same thing that made me who I am today. The same thing that somehow gets you into all sorts of problems. The same thing I used to not believe in. Dad was having a business meeting there for the investment firm he works at. I just tagged along out of sheer boredom. It was either that or having to stand spending a whole day with Elsie and Mom at the art museum. You guess which one I picked. Both of us never planned it out, we just found each other there. It was just one of those times.
• Bathing with Archimedes, by RLobinske (Part 5): Returning to the table with the girls' sodas, Vincent said, "Daria, what's with the eyes?" "What do you mean?" she said. "Whoa," Zoe said. "Your eyes are glowing." "It's really creepy looking," Quinn said, looking worried.
  
• Daria and Jane and the Bag O' Noodles, by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): "When we get to Daytona, and you have a few drinks in you..." "Yes?" "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
• NEW! Daria/Dorian, by LadieT (continued): "When my dad comes home, I'm going to talk to him about going to Buxton Ridge." Dorian stared at the wall, afraid to make eye contact with Jane. Jane felt as though the wind had been knocked out of her. "Don't." "Why not? People are going to be trashing me, not realizing they are talking to me. They'll be relieved that 'the misery chick' is finally out of Lawndale. Not to mention Ms. Barch and Mr. O'Neil... she's probably going to skin me alive while he's going to want to get all touchy-feely. I don't want to have to deal with that, Jane. What am I going to do?"
  
• NEW! Finn Morgendorffer 50: Matters of State, by HolyGrail2007 (Parts 6 and 7): “You don’t like me very much, do you?” “This is the first time we’ve ever spoken to each other. I’ve learned my lesson about judging people before I meet them. I don’t know you, but Finn’s said an awful lot of nice things about you.” “So, what’s the problem?” “No problem. It’s just... I remember how much I turned into a bitch whenever you came into the picture." (Part 7 here)
  
• Gorillas, I Swear, by Ticknart (COMPLETE!): As a gift to myself, I worked on a new illusion. I thought about adding the traditional trick of sawing a lady in half, but then I'd have to find another lovely to be Stacy's legs, and how could I divide my attention between two succulent young women? What was my new trick? Well, that'll be my secret, for now. With the great word of mouth from my appearances at parties, and the posters of me and Stacy from our performance at the school, the State nearly sold out. Lots of fine, fine money for me, minus 10% for Ms. Li, of course. Stacy, in the new dress and with her hair up, looked as amazing as I imagined she would. At three o'clock, the show began.
• NEW! Grove Hell on Earth, by Charles RB (Parts 3 and 4): Daria went to class as always, but noticed too late that she wasn’t taking the same level of notes as before. In math class, she noticed she wasn’t taking notes at all. She’d been writing random words and phrases. Despite herself, she smiled to see, “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy” was down there; something of her was still active, they hadn’t burnt it all out. Graham was looking at her. He’d seen the notes. She wrote “Hi Graham!” and a smiley face down, causing him to physically recoil and fall off his seat. The whole class turned to look. (Part 4 here) (FF.net)
  
• The Hallowed Halls of Fielding, by Roentgen (Part 38): "God, GOD NO, Terry. I am not accompanying Scarey Claire-y! The only mode of conveyance suitable to Claire Davidson is one used to sweep floors! This ride is not for me, oh no, no sir!" "Then why can't Claire Davidson get her own broom ride? Why must she bother you?" "She's not bothering me. I'm doing this as a favor for Kiki Morgendorffer." "Pat, if Kiki Morgendorffer jumped into a pile of used syringes, I'm assuming you'd jump in, too?" "I believe so. This part of the mating dance, Terry, is wasted on you."
  
• Judith Strikes! I Want My Mummy! by Doggieboy (COMPLETE!): “I can’t come over tonight, Sandi,” Quinn Morgendorffer said into her mobile phone. The redheaded teen laid on her back on her bed, her left knee propped up and her right leg crossed over that one. “I’m serious! Mom grounded me for a month after that date when Corey abandoned me at those warehouses. She nearly put me into a private school after he got shot right after that!” She nodded and said, “Well, she’ll calm down sometime and I’ll come right over. Bye!” She turned off the phone and shuddered. She hadn’t been totally truthful to Sandi, nor to anyone else outside of her mother and her sister, Daria. But she knew that she couldn’t tell Sandi about how she had been there when Corey was shot, nor about how she had then been taken hostage.
  
• Judith Strikes! Red-Winged Angel, by Erin M. (COMPLETE!): She twisted her wrist and the pimp's moans turned into screams. The woman took a step back and her foot flashed out again, catching Sammy squarely on the chin. The pimp went upright again, then off his feet and flat on his ass. Jane stared in horror and fascination at what happened next. The woman proceeded to beat Sammy to within an inch of his life, cloak swirling behind her. Elbows, feet, knees, fists, even fingers. All were used to strike at points designed to cause the maximum amount of pain and suffering.
• Raft College: The First Year, by rglovejoy (Part 10): When the check came, Sam insisted on paying it. "A guy has to have some prerogatives, Daria," he explained. "Fine, then, can I exercise a girl's prerogative? I'll be right back." Daria got up and walked to the bathroom. All she needed to do was wash her hands, but she spent a few minutes checking her hair. No one had ever called her pretty, except maybe her parents, but they did that because she was their daughter. Her sister would always ask her dates if she looked pretty, and they were often too terrified to say no. When Sam told her how she looked, it was completely unsolicited.
• Tracksuits, by Malakite (Part 8): Sandi noticed with little interest that the Preacher hadn't followed his charges in their attack as she squeezed off a two more rounds at the nearest ravening cubs. The resulting sprays of flesh and blood didn't faze the rest of those little monsters very much, only slowing them ever so slightly as they tried to avoid slipping. Between the cubs and the few believers who had recovered their fanaticism she still needed to make every bullet count.
• MOST NEWEST! Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Judith Strikes Highland!), by Charles RB (COMPLETE!): It was an awesome day. They’d managed to find a whole four—better, three crickets! Whomph! Fire! Yay! And then, whoa, cool! This building, like, went BOOOOM! “That was hardcore!” said Daria. “Heh heh, yeah!” chuckled Quinn. “Hey, you think something else will go up next?”
  
• Unnamed story (Scenes That Should Be: Breakfast of Zombie Champions), by LSauchelli (COMPLETE!): It was a cold winter morning in the middle of nowhere. Two figures stood facing each other, some twenty feet separating them. Daria stared at her father and gulped before saying, "Dad, I'm scared." Usually she would never admit such a thing, but having Jake Morgendorffer point a .45 at her chest was not something she was used to. Not yet. "Kiddo, don't be such a baby," her good old dad said. He checked his gun and prepared it. "We've been over this." (Daria/Kick-Ass)
• Unnamed story (What Would Jane Do?), by OverlordMikey (COMPLETE!): "Jane..." "Oh, hey, amiga! I'm getting ready to go out, I thought you where out with Ted. Is there something you need?" "Ted left me... for someone else." "What?! I'll tear his head off, that little punk! Who is she?! I'll kill her! No one hurts my amiga."
• NEW! Welcome to the LD, by Angryellow (Parts 2 and 3): "What took you so long?" Daria asked her best friend. "Ugh. Would you believe that my baby brother spit up on my blouse and I had to change into another one? Then I couldn't find my cell phone." "Did you find it?" "Yeah. Rachel had it and was playing with it, despite the fact that I told her not to," Jodie grumbled. "Little sisters. Whatever are they good for?" "Ha. You're preaching to the choir." (Part 3 here) (FF.net)
  
• Wrylight, by Minx (Part 7): Daria was scared. She knew that once she knocked on that door her life would no longer be the same. With an involuntary shudder Daria drew a ragged breath, rapped sharply, and waited for an answer. After a few minutes the door slowly swung open to reveal a disheveled Trent. He stood silently and stared at the young teen. His dark eyes bore into her own as he seemed to search her, as if he were looking for an answer to a question he hadn’t yet asked. “Um, hey Trent, is Jane home?” Daria asked. (FF.net)
  

No Cameras, Please

Just got home from vacation, still pretty bleary and a little brain dead. What's been going on since I was gone... got to have a most excellent Dariacon with Brother Grimace, only a week after having a most excellent one with Richard and Louise Lobinske, so I totally rule. Well, okay, THEY rule, but I get to rule a little bit.

The Midwest Dariacon 2010 is still on! Come and party!

Kara Wild has let us know that Anne D. Bernstein is teaching a class on animation. Whoa, that would be the best class EVER!

J-D asks, how often do certain Daria characters appear in the show? Check out his math and add your own thoughts.

J-D also has a few questions about "Gifted," regarding Ms. Li's behaviors. Post your own views. And he notes that gender-bender fanfics are often seen in the Daria fandom but not often anywhere else. Do you recall gender-flip stories in other fandoms?

Wouter asks, know of any celebrities who have Daria-like traits? If so, post about them.

Dark Kuno opened up a big can of win when he asked other writers about their least favorite part of writing a long serialized story. Got a ton of answers and debate. Good show.

Quiverwing has researched the issue of who on PPMB has the largest amount of no life, based on number of postings. And the winners are...

ART!!!

• Richard Lobinske has produced two superb renditions of Daria in a prom dress for a story he wrote, "Promise in Green." Thank you!

Moar l8r when my brain works again.

Off Today

Having a little Dariacon (aren't they all?) at Wonderfest today. Will return later. Enjoy your day!

And talk amongst yourselves. Think of a topic.

Janet Barch: Warrior Princess!

Happy Birthday, Lucy Lawless! You (as Xena) are Janet Barch's favorite TV character! Interesting that Barch uses a phallic dagger and not Xena's real weapon of choice. Hmmm, did that mean something?

"The New Kid" appeared on MTV twelve years ago. There are stories that Ted DeWitt-Clinton's appearance as Daria's first "real" boyfriend was not met with the wholehearted approval of the fandom. Maybe everyone wanted Daria for themselves. Or everyone preferred her unattached, or attached to Jane. Water over the dam now. Daria/Ted wouldn't have happened anyway.

This is also National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day, so we have gone back to "Camp Fear" and dragged out Earl and Barbara, who owned the dreadful unique cookie business at the general store. Good luck, you two!

N00Z!

• Mack Mackenzie has bad habits? He does now!
• Midwest Dariacon 2010 now has an activities list! Foremost among them appears to be stepping in cow poop at the state fair.
  

PPMB

• The Best and Brightest, by Smijey (Part 1): "Jane, I'm pregnant and Trent's the father." "Interesting." "If it's a boy, we're naming him Kevin, and if it's a girl, we're naming her Brittany." "Go on." "Damn it, Jane, you're not paying attention!"
• Finn Morgendorffer 40: Higher Learning, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 1): “Jane, you’re one of the best artists out there, and I know how you work. Just relax, it’ll come. Your best work comes when you just let things go as they should.” Finn chuckled. “Wow, that came out a little more dirty than I thought it would.”
• Sleight of Hand, by Minx (COMPLETE!): Death doesn't discriminate, it doesn't factor in things like wealth, social status or age. You won’t know when, you won’t know how, but it will happen. Most of you will pass on to greener pastures; to your own personal utopia. A select few of us however won’t be given this opportunity, at least not straight away. No, we stay behind. We are given a new body and a new identity and it will be our job to ferry the fortunate souls to the other side. My name was Daria Morgendorffer. Now I am a Grimm Reaper. (FF.net)
  

Hooked?

Pisces begins today, for the fishy zodiacal ones among you, so check your horror-scopes as Daria here has done. And learned to regret.

And this is the ninth anniversary of the first showing of "Fizz Ed" on MTV, kicking off the fifth and last season of Daria. Angst aplenty for all.

In the fandom, Kara Wild's essay, "The Off-Canon Approach" turns ten today, exactly. A milestone, there.

SKYPECON begins this weekend! Join in the fun of an online Dariacon! Meet new people! Argue with them!

Sketches of Mr. DeMartino, Quinn, and Sandi are offered by the illustrious MDetector5 on PPMB.

The new MTV Daria site is going strong. The URL used to connect to thumbnail descriptions of the episodes in the series, but the whole thing has been greatly expanded (thank goodness). The official Daria Facebook site will give you a pre-order special if you sign up. Amazon now has a pre-order section, as do several other sites.

Sick, Sad World has updated, as of a few days ago. Outpost Daria updated a few days ago to offer details on the DVD release.

Glitter Berries is still impossible to get, but you can download the whole thing here and are encouraged to do so soon.

The MySpace fan group, Daria and Jane 4ever, has unexpectedly ceased to exist. It had the largest collection of fans until the official Facebook site came up.

Another great fanfic update coming this weekend. Stay tooned.

What's Hawt

HOT TOPICS ON PPMB

• Midwest Dariacon 2010
• If there could be another B&B spinoff, who would it be?
• Looking Back at 2009 in Fanart: What Happened?
• Daria Cosplay (see also American Cosplay Paradise: Brittany Taylor)
• Help please, need screenshots of Amy for reference (lots of great shots)
• NEW! Why Mack/Daria Doesn't Work
• NEW! Didn't Daria have at least one friend in Highland?
• NEWER! What if MTV made Daria a different show that we know
• NEWERER! Quinn in Highland
• NEWEREST! Does Daria being X invalidate Y ? and some other stuff
  

Thanks to DBR70, Kristen Bealer, Roentgen, MidnightStorm, Vlora, and Malakite for their ideas. More soon.

Here's Lookin' at You, Kiddo

It's Thanksgiving, and there's more news to come.

Casablanca was released on this day 67 years ago. Bogart and Bergman (Trent and Daria, at left) reenact the airport scene at the end. Hankies all around for the tearfully inclined.

Peanuts creator Charles M. Schultz was born this day 87 years ago. Can you believe there have been Daria/Peanuts crossovers? Indeed, there are. (And I don't mean this one.) However, for some reason I cannot find them. Dang. Oh! Here's one, and here's the other! Excellent!

This exact day in the year 2001 (in another Dariaverse) was described in this fanfic. Another day in Paradise, how true....

Want to go to a Dariacon in Geneva, Switzerland? Want a chance to create havoc with the Large Hadron Collider while discussing Daria's bra size? Click the link! But read some fanfiction before you go.

PPMB

• Balletdictorian, by Kristen Bealer (COMPLETE!): I might be an ugly witch, Jodie thought with satisfaction, but at least I can have pretty shoes.
• The Bellgirl, by Liz Ruiz (COMPLETE!): "I spent the summer tutoring some of the guys at my school. Not that it didn’t totally backfire. I mean, who knew that after reading The Iliad they would come the next day dressed in a three-part donkey costume? They completely missed the freaking point!"
• Bringing the Angst, by Jim North (COMPLETE!): "Everything I touch turns to angst," Daria Morgendorffer said quietly to herself as she walked down the halls of Lawndale High School. "Everything becomes ash. Everything." (FF.net)
  
• Finn Morgendorffer 16: Ambrosia Vinaigrette, by HolyGrail2007 (COMPLETE!): “Eric, I really have to get going, it’s time for supper. What are we having? Well, lasagna of course. That ricotta is just so... what was that? Oh, Eric, I didn’t know about that. Well, there are plenty of other things besides cheese to eat. Damn those doctors, right? Bye!” (FF.net)
• Get Sloan, by Ranger Thorne (COMPLETE!): "Now, Tom, I called you in here for a very important assignment. From this point on, everything I say is Top Secret, Class A security clearance." "Class A?" "That’s right." "Then shouldn’t we use the Cone of Silence?"
  
• In Silence Sarcastic, by Trscroggs (continued): “You flashed Beavis and Butt-head!”
• In the Fine Morning, by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): The phone rang. Jane looked at the stereo clock. 9:54 am. The phone continued to ring. Six times. Eight times. Somewhere from the basement, the sound of a duck quack klaxoned through the Lane house. Great, thought Jane, Trent ain't home. The person next to Jane stirred and groaned. "Who's calling... goddamn it..." [Based on this comic]
• Iron Chef: Daria is Raven's Apprentice, by Project Pegasus (continued): Oh my, I hope that friend Raven comes back soon. Without her the Tower is somewhat... "Starfire, what is a nocturnal emission?!" ...chaotic.
• John Lane 44: Fizzy Logic, by Richard Lobinske (Part 1): As Ms. Ruiz passed out papers to her senior English class, she said, "Try to read chapters one to five of Frankenstein in the handout. You can thank the not-so-generous voters for the lack of real copies."
• Legion of Lawndale Heroes 13:7—Express Yourself, by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): “I had never envisioned any sort of code names for Legionnaires,” Daria Morgendorffer said, leaning forward in her chair as she spoke to the other Legionnaires in the conference room. “I don't think there’s much of a point. Why would anyone call me Mnemosyne when you can just say, ‘Hey, Daria?’ Why Polaris when you can call her Jane?”
• Legion of Lawndale Heroes 13:8—Shadows of the Night, by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): Mack didn’t understand why Sandi suddenly turned to look at him with a scowl, and the other girls began to titter. “What did I say?” he asked, actually taking a step back from Sandi. “What?”
• Legion of Lawndale Heroes Mini: Bull Session, by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): “Okay, my turn,” Mack Mackenzie said, taking a Cluster Burger and an order of fries out of the large bag before passing it on. “You’re going to a family reunion, and they all think that you’re married, so you need to show up with someone who they think is your wife. Who’s the girl you take along with you?”
• Mind Over Plasma, by Jim North (Part 1): The song played out to an uninspired finish, but Jane had to admit that the overall piece showed a little bit of promise. "It was okay," she said, "but I think it coulda used the sound of two cars in a mid-air collision falling five hundred meters to the ground." Trent's eyebrow arched ever so slightly. "You're right," he said. "I shouldn't have taken that part out."
• Reflections, by Midnightstorm (COMPLETE!): I never knew I'd live to see seventeen. Some days you wake up in the morning feeling like crap and just want to end it right there. You probably never felt the way I did. Those days, I'd go to the bathroom, look in the mirror and say to myself, "What? You're still here!"
• The True Story of How Stacy Rowe Destroyed the Fashion Club, by Ticknart (COMPLETE!): "Stacy," her mother called from downstairs, "come to the dining room, your father and I need to talk to you about something."
• Unnamed story (Three-peat! New Ideas Thread Wins Again!), by Richard Lobinske (COMPLETE!): Still confused by her surroundings, Daria followed the written directions to "The Green Dome". Inside, she found a middle-aged man with gray hair wearing a black blazer with white piping. "Where am I?" she demanded. He had a friendly smile as he said, "The Village." [Now with a sequel by Ranger Thorne!]
  

Birthday Girls

According to a certain popular fanfic, today is Daria Morgendorffer's 27th birthday! Thanks to Austin Covello for that date and the story.

In the real world, actress Wendy Hoopes (at right, a.k.a. Jane Lane, Helen Morgendorffer, and Quinn Morgendorffer) turns 37. Here is Ms. Hoopes as Jane, here she is as Quinn, and here as Helen. Thank you, Ms. Hoopes! You rOoL!!!

Fifteen years ago today, Daria appeared in the Beavis and Butt-head episode, "The Trial." Wonder if it was based on the Kafka novel. Hmmm, apparently not. (Click, copy, save, say no more.) That's Daria laughing in court at something Butt-head said, by the way. The prosecuting attorney is not amused. So this ninth-grader likes courtroom kibitzing? Daria was a heck of a kid, wasn't she? (The interesting images from the episode are displayed here.)

Kristen Bealer has raised the terrifying specter of a Midwest Dariacon 2010! Read and reply!

MDetector5's most excellent Fashion Club art is all the rage on PPMB's art channel. And Pinhead's "small jokes" just keep on rockin'!

Amusing photographs that could be of Quinn's Fashion Police have appeared at PPMB.

JPAGC has started a new Iron Chef based on a single screen capture from "I Loathe a Parade." See what you can do with it.

I was reminded of a great car-lovers' webpage that our own D. T. Dey helped create. It is the best!

PPMB

• Falling into College 71: Merging Goals, by Richard Lobinske (Part 1): "So, since you know him better, are you going to call Mr. Morgendorffer?" "I suppose I should." "What, his wife wouldn't appreciate him getting a call from a stripper?"
• Finn Morgendorffer 11: Man of Honor, by HolyGrail2007 (COMPLETE!): “Finn, you know you aren’t supposed to drink champagne. Alcohol isn’t for the under 21's. Put the glass down,” Helen instructed. “Finn, you don’t have to put it down as long as you’re staying here,” Rita returned. “Rita, Finn’s my son, not yours.” Helen’s eyes narrowed as she regarded her sister. “And I’m sure that makes you proud,” Rita replied.
• In Silence Sarcastic, by Trscroggs (Part 2): “My name is Daria Morgendorffer,” the sheet began. Before Jodie could read the next line Daria held her whiteboard up. “Daria Sunbeam Morgendorffer,” the board said.

• Invisible Love, by Charliefox2012 (Part 7): “Um, is Jane home?” Duncan asked tentatively. Trent only stared at Duncan impassively. After a moment, he sighed. “Yeah. She’s home,” he said and moved back from the doorway to let Duncan in. (FF.net)
  
• Unnamed story (Scenes That Should Be: Brains for Rent), by NightGoblyn (COMPLETE?): Daria sat on her bed and tried to read, but the stifling heat of the room distracted her and ruined her concentration. With a frustrated growl she tossed the book onto the nightstand and walked across the room to open a window. She had already stripped down to cut-off sweat pants and her sports bra, and only the thought of having someone walk in on her prevented her from trying to read in the nude.
  

Enough Fair

"Fair Enough" debuted 11 years ago this evening on MTV. In addition, Greystar began this story 7 years ago today, and a canon character (with fanon elements) was preparing to get married 73 years ago today.

Anyone up for a June 2010 Dariacon in England? If so, click here!

Don't have much else to add right now. Stay tuned.

PPMB

• Tales of the Ringbearers: With New Responsibility, by Richard Lobinske (Part 8): Archangel and Richard had scouted the abandoned restaurant before taking up observation positions around the portal and waited. While scanning, his ring detected something. Archangel said, "Someone's coming." "Apocalypse?" "No. Zero reanimates or metahumans within five klicks. We have humans approaching."
  
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Daria Is Raven's Apprentice), by Project Pegasus (continued): "I tell you the truth, using those gleefully obtuse Latinate phrases is better than sex."
• Unnamed story (Scenes No Daria Fanfic Should Have: TGIF), by Angelboy (COMPLETE!): Daria looked at the opossum sitting on the floor next to her. "I told you, Opie, I'm not going to kiss her..."
• Unnamed story (Scenes No Daria Fanfic Should Have: TGIF), by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): The shuttle began its slow approach to the landing beacon. Commander Jek played a popular warrior's chant over the shuttle intercom. "This relocation is not necessitated by a loss of honor," he said. "And therefore, there is no shame in the relocation. You will understand that, Dakra." "I was paying no attention," snarled Dakra. "I see no changes."
  
• Vigilante, by Lorenzo Sauchelli (Parts 1 and 2): “Now, that’s not something you see every day,” said the slim detective. He threw his cigarette straight to the floor at the sight of the corpse in front of him. [Part 2: “Got the vic’s name,” said a bored detective Guttenberg. He had been expecting a challenge in the Dragon Serial Killer, as the media was calling the maniac who had murdered the girl. It didn’t matter to the media that one victim hardly meant "serial," but it bothered him to no end their meddling.]
  

My Night at Daria's was Too Cute!

Yesterday was the 12th anniversary of the premiere of "Too Cute," from the first season (at right), and tomorrow will be the 8th anniversary of the first showing of "My Night at Daria's," from season five. Today is just the day between. Which of these two episodes did you like best, and why? That's today's Comments question.

Disco316 has provided us with a DariaWiki page on Dariarotica. About time! Just be careful what gets added to it.

More in a few minutes. Just got out of the hospital (long story, doesn't involve a penguin, forget it), need to catch up on stuff. brb!

BACK: More discussion of a possible Midwest Dariacon 2009 around Labor Day is being held on PPMB. Interested? Post about it!

And now for the fun stuff.

PPMB

• Action Stories 3: Two Knights Defense, by Nightgoblyn (Part 4): “I’m glad this day is over,” Quinn said as she stuffed most of her books back into her locker. “You say that every day,” Jane replied. “Today, I’m especially glad.”
• Daylight: Fallen from Grace: I Should Have Been Home Yesterday, by Disco316 (Part 7): The sun was nearing the west horizon as Quinn, Sandi, and Stacy approached the Interstate 64 overpass at Golf Mountain Road. The area was desolate compared to the relatively well-populated areas of Tyler Heights and Cross Lanes, which had combined into one settlement referred to by many as Tyler’s Cross.
• Daddy's Home, by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): Stacy screamed as she opened the door of her room only to find... [I won't spoil it. ]
• Daria, Agent of COBRA: Expectavi, by Ranchoth (Part 3): Interrogator shook the last splatter off the tip of his baton, before wiping it passably clean on his coat. The stain blended in well with the others. "How's it coming?" [The goodness continues!]
• Falling into College 68: Judging January, by Richard Lobinske (COMPLETE!): "Okay, if this is such a learning moment, what am I supposed to learn?" "We can never get rid of our unconscious biases, but we can learn to control our conscious ones. Do your best to judge Nell's project as you would anyone else's." "A lot easier said than done." [Bonus nerd points for finding the Red Dwarf reference.]
• For a Time, by Dennis (COMPLETE!): "Helen!" Jake shouted, "I am not going to have a..." Pain suddenly stabbed his chest, and his head exploded in pain. Breath failed him and his vision began to telescope down to a pinpoint. No! I'm leaving them, just like he left me! The rest was blackness. [Happy Father's Day!]
  
• Mystik Spiral Bitchen Party, by Disco316 (COMPLETE!): [Songfic time! The link leads to another link giving you the music and setting!]
• Paper Medal, by Angelinhel (COMPLETE!): [A heartbreaking but beautiful story that you have to read, written by a master.]
  

And Yet, When I Hear Her Name, I Still Think of Chocolates

Today is the traditional date when Lady Godiva went riding bareback (and bare everything else). Helen Morgendorffer here re-enacts that historic moment. Wait a minute, she's blonde now! Why didn't I notice that last year? Oh, forget it.

My joke here last year was, "She's barely legal!" If you have a better joke about Helen than than, put it in Comments. At least we can say we've seen her in her legal briefs. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Can't use that one! And I know some places refer to lawyers as solicitors, but this is ridiculous! Ha ha ha ha ha ha! I love myself.

What's in the fandom news section of the paper today.... oh, the Midwest Dariacon at Kristen and Bryan's place is still tentatively set for around Labor Day.

Notorious grammar raconteur "smk" is offering free writing lessons on PPMB for anyone who speaks English and anyone who thinks they speak English. This offer apparently stems from a few nightmarish experiences while beta-reading fanfics.



FF.net

• And Then Daria and Jane Kissed, by Smileyfax (Part 1): They watched the awkward-looking redhead continue to make a fool of himself some more. "What else would we do?" Jane asked. "There're only so many UFO conventions a year, you know." Daria thought about it. "I don't know. I'm sure we can find ways to keep ourselves occupied." Jane nodded, then smiled. "We could always make out."
• Sinspiration, by Vlora (Part 15): With this horrible resolution in mind, Trent and Daria went back to Trent’s hovel and began working at their music once more. Daria was thankful that Trent seemed to be working at a faster pace than usual. He still seemed to have issues with the idea of a deadline, but he had offered this time—and, with only a few weeks left till she was 18 and Trent needed the music done, he had pulled himself together.

PPMB

• Cold Comfort, by Doggieboy (Part 6): Daria reached the top of the hill several minutes after leaving the sheriff behind. She bent over slightly, her hands on her knees, as she panted in the now-steady rainfall. Her breaths came out in white vapors and goose-bumps dotted her forearms. She looked around as she rested and saw an oil pump in the distance. Beyond that she saw some sheds and what looked like a large oil tank of some sort. The woman finally took off at a jog towards the oil company equipment.
• Lawndale's Finest: The Dark Knight, by NightGoblyn (Chapter 4, Part 4): The Gotham east side got cold at night, when the sun went down and the wind started blowing off the Atlantic. More so on the rooftops, most of which are barren and open to the cutting knife of the wind. The moon was obscured behind the thin, scudding clouds, almost like it couldn’t stand to look down on Gotham. Sometimes, I know exactly how it feels, Batgirl thought.
  
• Unnamed story (Scenes No Daria Fanfic Should Have: TGIF), by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): Daria Morgendorffer and Jane Lane walked into Ms. Li's office. They had been called out of Mr. O'Neill's class over the intercom and they entered the room with a mixture of dread and relief - it got them out of a test. "Ms. Morgendorffer, Ms. Lane," said Principal Li, "this is a new student at Lawndale High and I want you to introduce her to everybody. I wanted her to be treated very nicely." "Hi!" said the blonde girl. "My name's Luann! Luann DeGroot!"
  

Pay Attention!

Some news bits for those in Daria fandom-land....

An open invitation has been extended by Kristen Bealer for a Midwest Dariacon, to be held in the indefinite near future. Check and link and report in if you think you can make it.

Roentgen has posted a very funny Daria Fan Fiction Classification Test on PPMB. Enjoy it.

I am working on the author/artist interviews I did a year ago and hope to post them soon. Thanks to everyone who participated.

PPMB

• Unnamed story (Crossovers Not Yet Crossed Over), by Respite (COMPLETE!): "Look here, Princess. We're going to need to set up some ground rules if you're going to intern for me, or whatever they said. First, in the fashion biz, mouths on girls your age aren't for talking, so if you're not going to use it for the reason it's there, just shut it. Second, belly-tees went out about three years ago. Burn it. Third, Ginger was never in. Dye it. Fourth: Did I mention shutting the hell up?"
  
• Unnamed story (Crossovers Not Yet Crossed Over), by Ajar (COMPLETE!): "Now it might look tempting to chose any old people you find to socialize with, but many of them can in fact be toxic for your mental state. These people here are poor candidates. First, they're just walking around, not worrying about anything. This likely means that they are either stuck up, unintelligent, or vapid, all of which are not good for your mental state."
  
• Unnamed story (Scenes No Daria Fanfic Should Have: TGIF), by Dennis (COMPLETE!): "Your lack of interest in personal interaction makes you an ideal candidate for working with the dead." The words of the career evaluation from high school floated through her mind, and she smiled, appreciating the irony. The quiz had almost nailed it. She worked with the dead and loved every minute of it, but not as a mortician, as a historian. And today her career may have reached its pinnacle.

Do not try to adjust your computer. We are in control.

Thought that would sound nifty for a headline. Sorta like The Outer Limits TV show. Cool. (See this OL intro, too. Whoa.)

The second annual Wonderfest Dariacon is coming up this weekend. Heh heh heh...

NEW NEWS! DariaWiki has some new pages and material. The newest page of all is: Ringwraith Three, by Lorenzo Sauchelli.

Two new artworks are online at Lawndale Online, both by Skooma: Daria Is a Viper Pilot and (the somewhat disturbing) Rorschach Daria.

MOAR FANFIC ADDED! This is a good day for readers!

FF.net

• Our Time Now, by Charliefox2012 (Part 3): In the kitchen, Daria was surprised to see the ceiling light fixture missing, and replaced by a gaping hole and wires. Jake was standing on the table and reading what appeared to be an instruction manual. He apparently was trying to fix the ceiling light. He was having a bit of trouble. Daria stood to watch him. “Dammit,” he swore, still reading the manual, “Where does it say which wire is which?” he said touching the group of wires on examination. “Maybe a little light will make things easier,” Daria teased, reaching for the light switch.
• Reunion, by Smileyfax (Part 1): Helen Morgendorffer knocked on the front door of the house of Jane Lane, Daria's new friend. She was elated to discover Daria had made a new friend--the only people she had hung out with in Highland were those two... odd boys. However, she wanted to meet with Jane's parents, get to know them, find out if Jane ran with any bad crowds.
• Wristcutters: A Daria Story, by Charliefox2012 (Parts 5 and 6): Daria arrived at Eugene’s around seven. He and his family lived in an apartment a few blocks from her. It was okay looking; well, as good as it was going to look in this place. Nothing here looked nice. Daria hadn’t dressed up; it was too hot. She just wore her usual tank top, and jeans, but she felt she should have put on something nicer. [You have to read this. It is awesome.]
  

PPMB

• Cold Comfort, by Doggieboy (Part 1): “Process her,” the sheriff said and shoved Daria towards the deputy with the pot gut. The man was at least forty-five and had a thick, dark mustache. He took his nightstick and gently prodded the young woman’s left shoulder with it. “Let’s go, girl,” he said as a younger redheaded deputy opened the door leading to the jail itself. Daria looked around as she was led in. She said nothing and ignored the deputies; she didn’t fight them, either, as she was led down a metal stairway to a desk. The middle-aged man sat at the desk and booted up a computer, while the younger deputy stood at her left side. [Guess the crossover?]
• Report on Ringwraith Three: The Fall and Rise of Vengeance Ring 167 (Tales of the Ringbearers 33), by Lorenzo Sauchelli (COMPLETE!): "...although we were able to track a few of Ringwraith One's clients for cross-dimensional travel, not one of them could help us find his current location," Ringbearer Pennyworth stated, his voice firm but obviously upset as he had no good news to bring.
• Stacy Rowe, Seeker (Part II), by jtranser (continued): "....So, you see, the key is Stacy and her biocongruent abilities. If you can inject an appropriate destabilizing factor at the proper moment, the Uncertainty Principle will take over. At that point, you should be able to maximize the situation to your advantage." "Thanks, Josh. You're saying that all we have to do is give things a nudge and let Stacy be Stacy, and it'll all turn out okay."
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Finish the Story, Your Way), by Cap (COMPLETE?): "You knocked him out with just a slap?" Daria asked incredulously. [You have to read this one, too. It is also awesome.]
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Lying About "The Kiss"), by Scissors MacGillicutty (COMPLETE!): "Young Thomas and I are no more." [It's ditto all over again. Wow.] PART 2 is here!
  

Putting the "Ass" Back in F-ass-t Food (heh heh heh heh heh)

You may as well know that today is also National Fast Food Day, though as someone else has pointed out, every day is National Fast Food Day. Butt-head will be our mascot for this event, held at Burger World in Highland, Texas. Daria herself asks an important question about Beavis and Butt-head's future: click here.

Enjoy your mouseburger!


LATE ADD: Father Martin has left an invitation for a Dariacon in London on November 19th. Anyone up to it?


PPMB

• Bet, by Legendeld (Part 6): “So, are you knocked up?”
  
• Daylight: Recruitment Day, by Richard Lobinske (COMPLETE!): For some reason, the phrase "Did the earth move for you, too?" comes to mind.
• Order and Chaos, by Legendeld (Part 11): Gracious, where are all these dead Sith coming from?
  
• The Other Side of Time: Unfinished Business, by The Sidhe (continued): The news from the Morgendorffer house was not to Jasper’s liking. “So they’ve got the place well guarded, eh?” said Jasper as he looked at the rough map of the area his men had drawn up.

Other

• Mannequinn, by Michael Pallante (COMPLETE!): An emotionally damaged Daria and family arrive in Lawndale. *

* Contains adult content.

Yet Still More Show Promos, Next on Sick, Sad World!

Don't touch that dial!

• "They pose as door-to-door salesman, but they turn house owners into frogs! I came, I saw, I conjured! Next, on Sick, Sad World." (21)
• "Are disappointed TV fanatics taking the pipe upon hearing their favorite show's been canceled? Exhaust fans, next on Sick, Sad World." (22)
• "Meet the renegade restaurateur who gave up a career at The Ritz for comedy on the rocks!" [On a nightclub stage, a man in a fancy tuxedo is pelted with tomatoes.] "The 'matered matre 'd, next on Sick, Sad World!" (23)
• "Was the Hindenburg really an accident, or was it pushed by an evil blimp? Incorrigible dirigibles, next on Sick, Sad World." (24)
• "He showed up in court with his briefs, but left his boxers at home! The nudist jurisprudist, next, on Sick, Sad World!" (25)
• "What happens when a group of psychiatrists decides to make a career in music? The vocal stylings of Pink Freud, next on Sick, Sad World." (26)
• "When veterinarians and restaurant owners become partners, just don’t ask about the hush puppies." [A cat runs across the shop counter, pursued by a nurse.] "Or the chili! When Sick, Sad World returns!" (27)
• "What did the Bride of Frankenstein's family think of her main squeeze? Exclusive interviews, next on Sick, Sad World!" (28)
• "Did Nostradamus predict who will win this Sunday's Super Bowl? We'll tell you here tonight, on Sick, Sad World!" (29)
• "Meet the religious radio announcer . . . with five wives! It’s Mormon in the Mornin’, on Sick, Sad World." (30)

Stay tuned for more!

P.S. MartinUK is thinking about a trip to Seattle. Anyone up for a Dariacon there? See this PPMB thread.

Happy Birthday to Your Keyboard!

You typed on a keyboard to access this website. The keyboard is, of course, derived from the one on a typewriter, which was patented 140 years ago today. Your input device is almost a century and a half old! Technology really speeds along, doesn't it? Thank you, Christopher L. Sholes, for all things QWERTY.

Remember Quinn & co. taking their "P-STATs" for college, in Is It Fall Yet? The actual SAT (on which the PSAT was based) was first administered 82 years ago.

The latest alt.lawndale.creators interview is with CINCGREEN and Ruthless Bunny, and they have a lot to say about their involvement with Daria fandom (and about the fandom itself). See the full-length interview on PPMB or SFMB. The next artist interview will be with Kemical Reaxion; the next author interview with MMan. Send in your questions today!

Portland Dariacon Deux was held recently, attended by cynigal and NomadX. Once again, yes, two Daria fans who meet for any reason whatsoever are considered to form a Dariacon. We don't have the membership numbers to be picky about it. See here for all the PDD news.

Densely written commentary is being posted about the latest Legion of Lawndale Heroes chapter (LLH 13.1: "Where Do We Go From Here?"), by Brother Grimace. Go thou, read, and post some more.

Derek has issued an Iron Chef on PPMB: "Write a scene where a character utters the line, 'Release the supersonic murderous psychic android squirrels that can smell fear!'" Do it to it.

PPMB

• Avenging, by Lorenzo Sauchelli (Part 12): "Yes, I am Leonardo Hamato," said the humanoid turtle. "I am here to be your sensei for the next two years."
• But What About the Baby (Sitter)?! by Kristen Bealer (Part 3): I think I'm actually getting dumber every minute I spend around Trent, Daria thought. The Crush Lives!
  
• The Cynic and The Defender, by Doggieboy (Part 4): "One time I tried to do a straight portal from Fostoria to Mammoth Caves in Kentucky. I ended up in a women’s locker room at Baylor University.”
• Stage Fright, by NightGoblyn (Part 1): A new story on the Evil Jane thread, with the welcome promise of much evil wicked badness in middle school.
  

A last historical note, which Jodie Landon would tell you about if no one else did: The first black American to be nominated for the presidency of the United States of America was . . . Frederick Douglass, who gained the nomination 120 years ago today. Party on.

All the News That's (un)Fit to Print

Lots of recent news to catch up on. Here goes:

Martin Pollard wants to know: Where are all of the Outpost Daria submissions? If you've written anything at all lately that has the faintest mention of Daria in it, send your stuff in to OD right now! (Read the rules first, though, plus this update from MJP.)

Lawndale Online is looking a little thin on submissions lately, too, so read the rules there and get on the stick!

Want to know what Daria fanfic writers think? Oh. Well, some people do, so go read the very first alt.lawndale.creators interview, with Kristen Bealer!

Notorious Daria raconteur Quiverwing has started her own blog. Check it out, and demand more Daria news. Or not.

Deref the Barbarian has crossed the Channel and invaded France in his epic quest for the longest-distance Dariacon ever. The damage to the Louvre alone is beyond calculation. He was last reported in the sewers of Paris.

A quickie report has come in (with pix) of the Portland Dariacon (in Oregon, not Maine) a week ago. And, yes, our fandom is small enough that a meeting between any two fans counts as a full-fledged convention.

798 fans registered on the Daria Fan Club, plus a new poll. This site definitely needs more activity. Someone please add a few more images or chat threads or new (funny) polls.

1,848 articles on DariaWiki, with excellent recent efforts by Nighthawk, Dr. Mike, Brother Grimace, and Quiverwing. Thank you!

SFMB is showing very little activity lately. What up? I need a sad smiley here.

A beta request has been posted on PPMB by Dennis, looking for readers for the fourth GTS story: "Closets Are For Hang-ups." If you've got the time, he's got the story.

To everyone's great surprise, the Thread of Dread has been continued anew! Go to Scenes No Daria Fanfic Should Have: Dawn of a New Nightmare.

Mike Xeno's PPMB thread, Irredeemable Daria Characters, keeps on going. The debate continues, and the evil (?) Dr. Shar enters the fray.

Which Daria story was the darkest one you ever read? Check out the Darkest Fanfic thread on PPMB and vote.

And the hits just keep on comin' in The 1,001 Deaths of Tom Sloane. Takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'! Plus, yet even more Things Students Are No Longer Allowed To Do At Lawndale High, and extra Scenes That Should Be: Brains for Rent.

Iron Chefs currently at large (thanks to Prince Charon and Greystar for some of these):

• Unusual(ly Gross) Superpowers!
• There are no laws, but there are rules!
• Everyone over a certain age suddenly dies. What happens next?
• Pranksters: What if Daria and Jane had liked to play practical jokes on people?

Wanna play around? More Daria Alphabetics is for you, then.

LATE NOTE: I just posted my 10,00th post to PPMB! I are a Darian!

And now for . . .


FAN ART!

• Wouter offers some Daria sketches in the PPMB thread, From the vault...
• Horas de Ocio (Leisure Hours), a marvelous color work by acidgirl. YES!
• Don't Mess with Them, a dual portrait by Lorenzo Sauchelli of Daria and Jane from his Dresden Files crossover tales.
• S.C.'s magnificent Cast Portrait (WIP) continues to progress as the Fashion Pu-uh, Pretties get a makeover.
  

More shortly, or not shortly, depending. Still trying to catch up.