"Eww! This is like that movie, Angela's Ashtray."

Daria's not thrilled about National Potato Day, and can you really blame her? Knowing Helen and Jake's cooking skills, I'm not even completely certain that potato isn't raw.

Today is also the anniversary of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry's birth in 1921. I know there are quite a few Trek fans in our fandom, so I'm sure there will be people celebrating this one around here.

Fandom News!

• Discuss the death of Aretha Franklin.


• Robyn has a question about copyright issues.


• Who would win a cosmic death battle between Space Ghost and Ralph Hinkley?


• Talk about the movie Mission Impossible: Fallout.


• Wouter posted a new Iron Chef: Frustrated.

Spuds in Space!

Daria's enjoying a break from frozen lasagna in honor of National Potato Day. I'm thinking maybe over-processed pasta cubes don't sound quite so bad anymore, do they?

Today is also the anniversary of Gene Roddenberry's birth in 1921, and as there are quite a few Star Trek fans in Daria fandom I think it's worth mentioning. Aside from echopapa's Memory Lane, I can't think of any crossover fics off the top of my head. Can you? Bonus points if they feature potatoes!

Fandom News!

• Visit the 2016 U.S. Presidential Campaign Decompression Thread for a break from politics.


• Share your funny stories about what went in the toilet besides the blatantly obvious.


• Join in the game I'm Going to My Third Picnic, and I'm Bringing....


• Shiva posted a new Deadliest Warrior thread: Superman vs. a Warhammer 40k Space Marine.


• tafka has started a thread for her artwork in The Easel.

But What Will the Wind Speed Do to Her Hair?

Happy Aviation Day! Quinn's all ready to take off...as soon as she finishes packing her suitcases with all the latest fashions.

Also, happy birthday to Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek, born on this day in 1921. Not only are there a number of Star Trek fans in Daria fandom, but there have been at least a couple of Star Trek/Daria crossovers in fanfic.

Fandom News!

• Let's cheer each other up with a new thread!


• What was the world's dumbest fight you ever had?


• What are your viewing habits when it comes to Daria?


• How would you define Jane's religious beliefs as seen in "Groped By an Angel"?


• Talk about the new Sailor Moon in the Weapons of Mass Distraction forum.


• Lord Yellowtail is looking for writing help related to makeout points or scenic overlooks.

Do Potatoes Have Low Self-Esteem?

Today is National Potato Day, so Mr. O'Neill is doing his part to celebrate. Today also happens to be National Aviation Day, and if you combined the two holidays I suppose you'd get flying potatoes. Perhaps a potato gun is in order? If Mr. O'Neill is involved, I'm all for it.

Also, happy birthday to both Gene Roddenberry and Bill Clinton, born on this day in 1921 and 1946, respectively. One gave us Star Trek and the other gave us never-ending cigar jokes. Good times all around.

Fanfic Update!

• The Author as a Lesbian, by DeacBlue (part 1): "Daria walked out into the hallway and gently closed the door to Mrs. Manson's office behind her. Smooth, Morgendorffer. Just because she mispronounced your name - twice - you get into a battle that you can't win with someone that might actually start Mom and Dad thinking and digging."


• Boxing Ms. Morgendorffer, by Chris Tucker (part 9): "As Jane got off the train at South Station, she was not the least bit surprised to see Daria standing on the platform, grinning broadly, at the reality of seeing her best friend in person after more than half a year. The two embraced and hugged for a while. 'I'll let Daria decide when to let go. She needs this far more than I.' Indeed, Daria broke the embrace a few moments later. Knowing her friend's moods all too well, Jane held out the wad of paper napkins she'd grabbed in the cafe car of the train."


• Common Enemy: A Daria/Babylon 5/Command and Conquer - Crossover (Crossovers Still Crossing Over), by Wassersauefer (parts 1 - 3): "The whole space station shuddered under the impact of yet more enemy fire and the lights flickered, but none of this mattered to Lieutenant Lane, who was busy fighting for her very life. She snarled and lunged at her enemy, the former shooting match had long since been degraded into an all out brawl. Kevlar-armanit-armor against battle pikes, crystal-armor against combat knifes, blue against black, Minbari against Humans." (Part 2) (Part 3)


• The Consequence of Guilt (Iron Chef: Daria on glitterberries), by OverlordMikey (COMPLETE!): "It had been an accident; it was supposed to be a prank. She got the guys to get her the berries, but didn’t tell them anything more. She then tricked Daria into consuming them. She thought it’d be funny, but then Daria tried to fly - tried to fly off the school roof that is."


• Courier and Ives and Ashtrays, by Lord Yellowtail (COMPLETE!): "With some effort, she willed herself to think of happier times, when her father had been at his most sober and most affectionate. It had always been when he pulled himself together enough to work on the bike, and led her into their old, rundown barn and taught her everything he knew about how to fix it up and make it run like new. Still, he spent ninety percent of his conscious hours in a drunken stupor."


• Daria, or the Confession of a Single Lonely Male, by Arena del Sur: "Da crawled out and shivered a little: the evening air was decidedly crisp. Upon entering the cabin, she lay down on a bed, buried her face in the crook of her arm and said she felt awful. Then I look and discover with outrageous horror that her face and neck was covered with a bright, red rash. Daria ill. Daria dying. Her skin was scalding hot!"


• Given Up (Iron Chef: Radio Music), by LadieT (COMPLETE!): "Daria stared up at the ceiling, her face drenched in sweat. It was almost midnight and she had just awoken from another nightmare. Ever since she had kissed Tom and destroyed her friendship with Jane in the process, she couldn't get an entire night's sleep. Shame still haunted her."


• Last Friday Night (Iron Chef: Radio Music), by Wassersauefer (COMPLETE!): "At 14 pm the Griffins left their house and drove their two sons to a friend where they were spending the weekend. At 15 pm the Fashion-Club arrived to coordinate their outfits and makeup and all that stuff. Five hours later they and the house was ready for the first partygoers. At 22 pm pandemonium was ruling the household and total chaos was master of all. Sandi had long given up and –"


• Mad Dog's Legacy Chapter 10: Rock On, by Hyrin (part 5): "'I understand that I upset you and Jane today, and I’m sorry. I just...I want us to be a family again.' 'Were we ever a family to start with?' Trent asked, forcing his voice to stay neutral. 'I can’t think of a time that you and mom were home for more than a month at a time, and Wind, Summer and Penny all skipped out as soon as they got the chance.'"


• Oh Well (Iron Chef: Daria on glitterberries), by LadieT (COMPLETE!): "Quinn looked at her cellphone. It had almost been two hours since she made Daria the chocolate glitterberry milkshake. She couldn't wait to go into her sister's room to take pictures of Daria bouncing off her padded walls. The only trouble was she hadn't heard any noise coming from the room."


• Payback! (Iron Chef: Daria on glitterberries), by DIsaac (COMPLETE!): "'How did I get here?' 'You remember that camping trip?' 'Please for the love of god don't say-' 'I gave some glitterberries yesterday. I snuck it in your firecracker chicken at Good Time Chinese restaurant.'"


• Save the Last Trance for Me, by jtranser: "Jane said: 'One of the everyday things You have to do as a God is display Your command of languages.' 'I can do that!' 'In your case, Sandi, it'll be better if you keep quiet...' Angered, Sandi replied: 'Just because I'm not a God, you make it sound like I'm stupid!!!' 'Daria, You didn't tell her?' 'No, but I did check out her voice sample against the Stupidity Spectrum...' 'And?' 'Let's just say, the graphs don't lie...'"


• Settling Into A New Life, by RLobinske (part 8): "Karen said, 'We're not going to let you go without at least having some fun tonight.' 'I'm still working on that whole "fun" thing,' Daria replied. CC grinned. 'Don't worry. We're professionals.' 'That's what I'm afraid of.'"


• Snark of the Swarm (Crossovers Still Crossing Over), by Yogi (COMPLETE!): "However, it appeared that Jane was too late. The surface of the cocoon was already rippling and heaving, a clear indication that whatever monstrosity it contained would soon be hatched. Taking stock of the surrounding area, Jane had just started to plan the push towards the cocoon when the thing began twitching. With a final convulsive shudder, it didn’t so much as crack open as collapse, sloughing off in wet chunks as the figure it was protecting stepped out. It wasn’t Daria."


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Daria on glitterberries), by RX-87 (COMPLETE!): "The Self-Transforming Machine Elf gave an irritating, smug metallic giggle as the golden horns on its forehead folded together and it pulled its gigantic alabaster cranium into a shiny blue torso that never should have been capable of accommodating it, while simultaneously pulling its arms inward, reversing its knees, unfolding its tail and spreading its shimmering red and black wings to fly away."


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: If I Forget You: Daria's Turn), by LadieT (COMPLETE!): "Jodie led her into the bathroom. 'Daria and Mr. DeMartino were working at Mr. O'Neill's "Ok to Cry Corral" for the summer. Right before the Fourth of July, they were taking a bus load of campers for a hike when the driver lost control and they careened off the side of the mountain. When Daria didn't come home that night, Mrs. Morgendorffer called the police. After a two-day search, the wreckage was found. The only person who survived was Daria, who had been trapped on the bus with two broken legs and a very bad head injury.'"


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef - Jodie the Inventor), by Chris Tucker: "She nudged Josephine. 'Git over to the radar station, something's up with Link. Scoot!' 'I'm there 5 minutes ago!' She replied. She unplugged her headset and trotted for the door. 'Link, Josephine is headin' over to th' radar shack. What's goin' on? Over' 'Foo fighters. Over.' 'Shit. Over.'"


• Unnamed Story (Scenes no Daria fanfic should have: Last Friday Night!), by DigiSim: "'I can't breathe, Mother. I can't breathe!'" (Continued by Ixmythot) (Continued by Smijey)


• Wings (Iron Chef: Daria on glitterberries), by respite (COMPLETE!): "Daria took a sip of the smoothie on her way to Jane's, and noticed that she felt somewhat more awake. 'Hm. Must have some of those slimming amphetamines in the mix,' she thought, and paid the sensation little mind. Jane was ready to go when Daria arrived, and the two headed off to Lawndale High together as Daria took a healthy slug."


• You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This (Iron Chef: Radio Music), by Hyrin (COMPLETE!): "Jane smiled to herself. The night had gone much better than she had anticipated it would. Meeting Tom at the Zon had been a stroke of luck, and even if Daria had left the club before they got back from getting dinner, Mystik Spiral's second set had been tolerable enough (especially since Jane hadn't really listened to any of it)."

This Spud's for You

Sorry about reusing the Beavis and Butt-head "Mister Potato Head" image so soon, but I stand here before you to tell you, in complete seriousness, that today is National Potato Day. You are required by law, regardless of the country you live in or wished you lived in, to eat something that has to do in some way with potatoes: mashed potatoes, French fries, cheese fries, potato chips with or without ruffly ridges, whatever. I know you will your best.

Today is many other things as well: National Aviation Day, Gene Roddenberry's birthday (from whom we get Trekkies), Ogden Nash's birthday (from whom we get snarky poetry), World Humanitarian Day, and two years from now, Daria faces death on an alien planet. Yay! So much goodness, don't know where to begin.

Soooooooooooo... we'll start with fanfic.

PPMB

• The Cornfield, by Smileyfax (Part 2): "How was your first day at school, Daria?" "I almost killed the school counselor," she answered matter-of-factly, watching Quinn as she listlessly pushed her food around her plate. Jake forced a laugh. "Ha HAAA! What a sense of humor! What about you, Quinn? How was your first day?" Quinn met her father's eyes for a half-second, then resumed rearranging her food. Jake carried on like Quinn had replied to him. "That's great, honey!"
• Daria/Dorian 7: Motorcycles and Jocks Don't Mix, by LadieT (Part 1): "Hey, Dorian and Jane... doesn't Kevin look like a rebel in his new jacket? The one he got for Christmas wouldn't fit over his shoulder pads so we had to exchange it." "Where's the bike?" Jane asked. A confused look came over Kevin's face. "Huh?" "That's a motorcycle jacket," Dorian replied. "It's made out of leather to protect you from scrapes when your head's bouncing off the grill of a truck." Jane immediately added, "If you're just wearing it for style, then it's a waste of a perfectly good cow."

• Finn Morgendorffer 56: A Journey to Eternity, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 4): Lindy laughed. “Are you free this weekend?” “I am,” Finn replied. “What’s up?” “A party. The 80's. Can you fashion disaster it?” Finn laughed. Theme parties were kinda fun if done right. And the 80's had music as great as the fashion was ugly. That would be a fun night.
  
• First Loss, by thatLONERchick (COMPLETE!): Jackie watched the blonde storm off with a small smile. It had been cruel of her, true, but if anything was true about Jackie it was that she always spoke the truth. Kevin beamed his dopey grin and Jackie blew him a kiss for good measure. He hadn't remembered her at first, but it was hard to hold it against him. Soon the assembly was over and as the students began filing out, Jackie tossed her feathered hair and caught one of the military-looking guys' eye. A wink and a smile and the deal was done.
• NEWER! God Save the Esteem 2: Fight for Your Invite to Party, by Charles RB (Parts 1 and 2): Quinn was going through her leather gear and trying to find the skimpiest ones she could. “Hmmm... one inch after bra or half inch? One inch or half inch, one inch or half inch...” “Is this a bad time to mention there’s a cold front coming in?” Daria stood in the doorway, the cloud behind the silver lining. “Go away, I’m concentrating. There’s some big party in Crewe Neck on Saturday and we’re gonna be crashing it.” “Countdown: T minus 72 hours. Might this be Brittany’s party?” “Yes, and might you... how do you know about a party?” “I’m invited. Not sure if I’ll go yet.” “You’re invi... MUM! DAD! DARIA’S SELLING OUT!” (NEWER! Part 2)
  

• Grove Hell 2: All the Lawndale People, by Charles RB (COMPLETE!): The nearer she got to Tuesday night, the worse Daria felt. Her stomach was full of acid and she was sweating, and she’d have to go through the notes every so often to avoid outbursts. She’d managed to blank out for the entirety of Maths but, luckily, Mr Ewing was used to people doing that and hadn’t picked up on it. The one bright spot: Jane muttering “everything’s set up, and I’ve ensured Trent will be awake. Well, I will ensure. I have heavy boots.” T minus six hours and counting.

• NEW! Import/Export, by Brian Taylor (Part 1): "Hey, kid," said a voice that shouldn't have been talking, two hours after it shouldn't have been saying anything. Daria Morgendorffer had heard a lot of voices since she'd been thrown into Cook Country for using grabby fingers to fill a hungry belly. Such were the ways of the world.; such was the spirit of the times. None of those voices ever said anything worth hearing. Usually, they just wanted something. Usually that something wasn't something any sensible somebody in a skirt wanted to hear.
  

• In Any Other World, by Charles RB (COMPLETE!): “Girls, I realize it’s not easy moving to a whole new town... especially not for you, Daria.” She didn’t respond. She’d been staring sullenly out the window for the whole journey. “I know it was hard losing your room and Mr Van Driessen and everything, but—” “Can you drop me off here?” interrupted Quinn. “I want to make a good impression on the first day, that really helps with your rep—I mean, blow it and everyone’s gonna remember you for that, it’s like that big bird thing 'round your neck, and it’ll just look better if I arrive at school on my own and not with—” She paused just for a second. “—my dad. It’s kinda lame.”
  

• Jane Lane Tries to Do Some Begging, or, Writer's Block Comix 2, by Gwrtheyrn (Part 2): At this dramatic juncture in the narrative, there came a brisk, masculine knock at the front door. Such knocks were not always good news at stately Lane manor, especially when the parents were away. Sometimes there were truant officers behind them; since it was still summer, that seemed unlikely. But, sometimes there were process servers upon the moors; was that a possibility? Jane didn't know of any bills in the red zone, but it was so easy to miss something!
• NEWER! Kolchak: The Lawndale File, by Chris Tucker (Parts 3 and 4 and 5): "Ladies, I'm almost finished, please, sit and I'll be out of your hair in a minute." "Thanks, that's very kind of you." Her voice seemed to be sincere, but there was something maybe a little sarcastic... I don't know. She took the bench opposite me and her friend, a taller girl with stunning blue eyes and three rings in her ear joined her. The first girl spoke again, something about me being new here. "In town or in here? Yes, to both." I introduced myself, and the two girls were suitably unimpressed. Can't say as I blame them. (Part 4) (NEW! Part 5) (Daria/Kolchak: The Night Stalker)
• NEW! The Lane That Wasn't, by LadieT (Part 20): Jane knew the moment of decision was fast approaching. Reaching down once again, a smile came over her face. Feeling the warmth, Jane thought about her life as she knew it. There were very few occasions when she felt the sense of familial love. Everyone of them involved Trent. This new life was surrounded by it. If this road is encircled by it, then Trent's road should be, too. More importantly, if she chose this other path..she wouldn't lose Trent. The one person who mattered most to her in this life was still going to be her older brother.
  

• Legacy, by Getrealordie187 (Interlude 5): Sandi sits up straight in her chair, furious at the other girl's audacity. "Where do you get off talking to me like that in my own house while you call my mother by her first name and tell me about how I talk to my friends? Who do you think you are?" The brunette sits on the grass and stretches her legs out. "We're not in your house are we? This is your mother's house and she encouraged me to call her Linda when I met her earlier this week. I just think its hilarious the way you talked to that little pig-tailed girl, because you need all the friends you can get right now and you don't appear to have any.
• Moving Pictures IV (formerly The Camera IV), by Brian Taylor (COMPLETE!): "And here I always thought the only reason you'd ever show school spirit is if..." One of the floodlights sputters out. The auditorium lights come up. A tall, scrawny kid with glasses ducks on stage from behind the curtain. Kelly emits a sudden, loud laugh. "Now I get it!" "Get what? You can't get anything," says Amy a touch too quickly. "There's nothing to get." "You're not doing this for money. You're doing this because Joey Caswell's working tech and you just want an excuse to skulk in the shadows and stare at him." There's a pause. "Shut up," Amy hisses through what sound like clenched teeth.
• Unnamed story (Commune-ists), by Chris Tucker (COMPLETE!): "OF COURSE we ran away! They were going to make us eat GOAT CHEESE! HOMEMADE GOAT CHEESE!"
  

• Unnamed story (Crossovers Still Crossing Over), by Erin M. (COMPLETE!): "And so," Daria Morgendorffer said, hands clasped behind her back as she paced in front of the suspects in the Great Lawndale High Bake Sale Caper. "The crumpled pay stub found in the basket where the cheerleading squad had their chocolate-covered bundt cake, along with the bottle of eye drops found under the Fashion Club's table when their Eyeshadow Cookies were stolen started pointing to a member of the Lawndale High faculty..." "Ms. Morgendorffer," Ms. Li said. "You can't seriously be accusing a teacher at Laaaaaawndale High to be a low-down pastry-pilfering thief!" (Daria/Captain Caveman)

• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Gangster School?), by Smileyfax (COMPLETE!): "Alright, youse mugs, simmer down!" he called out. "My name's 'Tommy' O'Neill. You know why the call me Tommy?" He opened the violin case, seized out the Thompson submachine gun inside, and emptied a clip into the ceiling. Bits of plaster rained down upon the students, all of whom seemingly unaffected by the insane act. Daria herself flinched and slumped down lower in the seat. "I wanna talk to youse all about realizing your actuality, and you all better stand up afterward and proudly proclaim 'I am', capische?"
• NEW! Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Gangster School?), by Wraith (COMPLETE!): [Won't spoil it for you!]
  

• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: In Search of "Donor"), by Wormbait (COMPLETE!): "Wow, you actually had an affair with that?" Jack asked his friend while watching the auburn-haired woman in the pantsuit rail at her family from by the door to the restaurant where they were supposed to meet. "You must have been a lot braver when you were younger, Danny boy. Not hard to guess which one's yours."
  

• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: The Misery Chip), by smk (COMPLETE!): "Are you sure you want to try the scenario again? After what happened last time?" "Well it's completely ridiculous! Women of the day were expected to have careers and fulfill traditional female roles in the home, it's no wonder the pressure got to them. Although that woman you had me play was simply absurd! Constantly railing at everyone because a relationship ended? And besides, what do you think holodeck safety features are for?" "Very well. We'll be starting in a couple hours. But this time, please remember that it's a science class, not a combat scenario." (Daria/Star Trek: The Next Generation)
  
• The Vision of the Burning Cities, by jtranser (continued): "'No, Jane, this one I'll have to do alone. I can't risk anyone else being trapped in his web and eaten." "Why not, Daria? What about the limitless hordes of fanatical simuloid followers you picked up in that mystic's dream, what's his name, Doobie Baba?" "Ashlune Bubanabaar. I checked. They're busy." "That, or scared shitless." "Can you blame them?"
  

Big Name Birthday Boys

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

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

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

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

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

Stay tooned.

Bubba's Big Beavis-n-Butt-head Birthday

You guessed it! Today is the 62nd birthday of former President Slick Willie "Bill" Clinton, seen here with two of his most ardent supporters. For more about "Bill" and Daria Morgendorffer, click here.

Today is also the 87th anniversary of the birthday of Star Trek-creator Gene Roddenberry, but I've already used the Tom-Sloane-as-Captain-Pike alter ego. The Star Trek fandom helped our own fandom in many ways, very indirectly, so cheers to you, Mr. Roddenberry, and thanks.

More news soon, need to do some housework first.

LATE ADD: Found the Clinton-as-Cornholio image on a conservative blog. Loved it. If you click on the picture, it moves. Cool. Heh heh heh heh heh heh...