Junk Is Meant to Be Eaten

Not only is today National Junk Food Day, certainly beloved of Our Heroine Jane and her sidekick Daria, but it is also a double Daria episode anniversary. The last episode of the first season, "The Misery Chick," and the third-season episode "Jake of Hearts" both premiered on this date 13 and 11 years ago, respectively.

Today is Racial Harmony Day in Singapore, and we give them our best. Marshall McLuhan, who studied the development of mass media and coined the term "global village," was born this day 99 years ago.

And now for the news.

No0OZ!

• Daria appeared on the cover of AM New York recently and was there discovered by Chris Tucker, who announced it on PPMB with help from Jim North.
• Check out the Daria motivational posters, courtesy of NoName999. NEW! Even more motivational posters are being posted from assorted contributors! Party on!
  
• The Daria forum on Television Without Pity is now up to 55 pages. Awesome. Join the talk.
• NEW! Nu art: "South Park Daria," by GlitterShrooms; "Daria Is the Word," byDestiny18au.
• NEW! Charles RB brings to PPMB a new thread for fannish infighting: Upchuck: Threat or Menace?
• MUCH NEWER! Wraith's Sick, Sad World website has updated!
• MUCH MUCH NEWER! Kristen Bealer has discovered the ultimate home for bibliophiles like us Daria fans. Oh. My. Gawd....
  

FF.net

• MUCH NEWER! The InDark, by Mediancat (Parts 28 and 29): Mrs. Kruger seethed, but inwardly realized she had no choice. Though she was chafing to get another shot at killing Daria Morgendorffer, she could dematerialize; she was not a teleporter and had to get to Salt Lake City the old fashioned way. Salt Lake City? she'd asked in disbelief, as though no one ever got assassinated in Utah.

PPMB

• NEW! And the Number One Top-Ten Reason to Love the Telephone, by Chris Tucker (COMPLETE!): "The transplant took. She's making new blood cells on her own... No, don't thank me. It's her. She should have died several times... Slowly. Very slowly. She doesn't have a lot to work with right now." [Part of the "Season in Hell" series]
  
• NEW! Bedside Consultation, by Chris Tucker (COMPLETE!): "So, how are you feeling today?" Words do not exist, she wrote. "Yeah, it's rough. But, really, you are doing well. You're losing weight, to be expected, but not as fast as you could be. That's good. It shows you're absorbing nourishment, no matter how fast you're voiding it. No sign of infection at the feeding tube site, I see. Any pain at the site... well, any pain other than the usual?" [Part of the "Season in Hell" series]
• NEW! Daria and Trent Forever, by Malakite (Part 3): Jane herself couldn't quite believe what she was doing, to the extent that she was thinking about it at all. Making eyes at and chatting up her best friend's dad while her best friend was sitting right there, interjecting the occasional snide double entendre, was really not how she had planned to spend her time here.
  
• Daria/Dorian 5: Mountain of Truth, by LadieT (Part 2): Dorian flipped through the book. He choose a heavy jacket, first-aid kit, and a new sleeping bag. He would let Jane use it and if he could fit into his old one. He knew hers was not in good condition, especially if the weather became bad. He gave the catalog to his mom. Helen placed the order for overnight delivery. "Hey, Dad, can I borrow your camping backpack?" Dorian asked as he shut off the television. "Sure thing, kiddo. It's in the garage." Dorian headed for the garage, pulled out the oversized backpack, and went to his room. He leaned it against his desk while he made a short checklist of what he wanted to put in it. Rather be safe than sorry. Who knows what Ms. Li has got planned. A few minutes later, he heard a knock on his door. He opened it. Quinn and Jane came into the room. They looked at the backpack. "See, I told you he went off the deep end," Quinn smirked. (Part 3)
  

• Daria: Hunter 6—Infectious, by Jim North (continued): Jane tried to stand up, but her muscles didn't want to listen to her. She wibbled, she wobbled, but she couldn't get up. Consciousness decided to ditch her for a few seconds, leaving her back on the ground to start all over again. And start all over she did. She had to stand, had to help. "Now that was just STUPID, now WASN'T it, Miss Lane? JUST what I would EXPECT from a sidekick!" That voice, that hated voice! Jane gritted her teeth, pushed herself up with all her might, and punched DeMartino in the leg.
• Finn Morgendorffer 53: Purely Magnetic, by HolyGrail2007 (Parts 5, 6, and 7): “Actually, I was planning a trip down.” Jane informed him. “Daria and I are coming down for a weekend.” “Really? Well, that’s nice. Would be nice to see you again. What weekend?” “Prom weekend.” “Oh!” Finn tried not to sound overjoyed that he would at least have someone to hang out with. “Why’s that?” “No reason.” Jane was as hard to read as always. “You’ve got a reason. Tell me.” “A Jane reason.” Jane replied evasively. (Part 6) (Part 7)
  
• LAST CALL NEWESTER! First Born, by RLobinske (COMPLETE!): At the Birthing Center, they found the medic and the ambulance driver in the waiting room. The nurse at the duty station said, "Friends of the Adlers?" "Yes," Daria said. Jane said, "The military escort tipped you off." The nurse chuckled. "That, and Mrs. Adler is the only woman in labor." "Ah," Jane said. "That too." (Last part) (FF.net)
  
• Grove Hell 2: All the Lawndale People, by Charles RB (part 2): Jane was the best artist in school and had a rapport with art teacher Miss Defoe—both of which meant Jane felt compelled to enter the contest. She’d been grouchy until she’d realized her painting could show student life sucked. “Yes,” said Daria. “Got any ideas of what I can do?” “No.” “Come on, you’re the most negative person I know.” “A photo of Kevin and Brittany, and the words ‘America’s Future’.” “That’s too negative.” (FF.net)
• The Hallowed Halls of Fielding, by Roentgen (Part 45): Sue smiled, fairly satisfied with Misha's effort and her own finishing touches. "I'm coming back with blood, Misha. With blood!" "Good luck!" Sue marched out of the bathroom. Elsie Sloane, if you're wrong about this, I'm going to make the rest of the year a nightmare for you.
• Judith Strikes! The Best Halloween Ever! by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): The young woman known as Judith barely had time to scream as Daria Morgendorffer’s spring-loaded bed flipped over, around on one side, and smacked her face-first into a padded wall in the blink of an eye! “GAH—!” Judith choked out, as the bed fell away from her. “DA—” The curse was choked away as the bed slammed back into her, driving her back into the wall! “You little bi—” The bed struck again with a room-rattling WHAM! “I’m gonna ki—” WHAM! “You’re gonna pay—” WHAM!
• NEW! Kabti-Ilani-Marduk, by Malakite (Part 5): Daria giggled a little at the face her Dad was making.Then she leapt toward him and wrapped her arms around him. This caused the boat to rock back and forth gently as he told her how wonderful she was and how she was his favorite in that warm soothing voice. It was a paradise on a beautiful lake under a perfect sky. She purred gently as she buried her head in his chest. Then there was a horrible piercing crack of thunder and Daria lept up...
  
• The Lane That Wasn't, by LadieT (Part 2): We were on our way back to the school to destroy our poster. I remember heading out the front door saying, "I call shotgun." Daria turned to me, "Fine, but I claim it for the trip back." Trent was leaning against the front of the car. He had a small grin on his face. "I see Janey beat you again at shotgun, Dee." Jane's brow creased. I don't ever recall Trent having a pet name for Daria. Jane began to think about the conversation they had in the car. Daria was never this talkative around Trent. Even as we were getting out of the car, after I warned him to go park, Daria playfully slapped his arm and made a 'you better stay awake' gesture. He nodded and let out a slight laugh. Another look of confusion fell over Jane's face. I don't get it. Daria would never touch Trent much less slap him. I need answers and the two people I feel will give me straight answers can't. One is not here and the other is unconscious. Jane let out a long, frustrated sigh.
• MOST NEWESTER! My Heart Is Going Boom Boom Boom! by Chris Tucker (COMPLETE!): "Jake! How're you doing? The flight was OK? No trouble getting a cab?" "No, no. Everything went well." "Good. So, we'll be officially discharging Daria in about 30 minutes. Paperwork, you know. So. She's in remission. She's not cured. We never use that word with cancer. But the prognosis is damned good." Mac watched Jake carefully. This is usually when they lose it. Hang in there, Jake, she needs father to be strong for her right now! [Part of the "Season in Hell" series]
• NEW! Pizza Run, by Chris Tucker (COMPLETE!): "You know, when that favor is called in, it's going to be a whopper!" "Probably involving shovels, the dead of night and a convincing alibi about the sudden disappearance of Sandi." (MUCH MUCH NEWER! Part 2) [Part of the "Season in Hell" series]
  

• Raft College: The First Year, by rglovejoy (Part 18): "And while we're on the subject, what about the way you'd always be busting on Tom?" "What the hell're you talking about?" "It's a bone I've been meaning to pick, Daria. I thought you gave him so much shit about his money and his parents' connections while you two were dating. Okay, granted me and Tom were having problems before we stopped seeing each other, but I never had a problem with his money. I think if anyone had a right to feel resentful, it would have been me. He was even kind enough to get his folks to write a letter to Bromwell to try to get you off the waiting list. I didn't say it at the time, but I thought you were being an ass, being all resentful like that. He wasn't doing that because he was showing off or doing it as an act of charity. He did it because he loved you and he wanted you to be with him. Is that so freaking hard to understand?"
• Three-Edged Sword, by NightGoblyn (Parts 5 and 6): Tom glanced up, relief flickering across his face before fading back to worry. "Thanks for not locking the door," Daria said dryly, glancing around the living room. "Where's Jane?" "In her room," Tom said. "Probably still crying." "Oh." Daria stood quietly for a moment, fidgeting and watching Tom as he stared silently into the playpen. "What are you doing?" "I decided to spend some time with the only women in this house that don't hate me," he answered quietly. (Part 6)
• Who's the Bitch Now? by Chris Tucker (Parts 1 and 2 and 3): Seven months before graduation, the Season of Hell began very simply: "Where the hell did THAT come from?" she thought, as she was taking her morning shower. Yes, it was a lump in her breast. Yes, the biopsy indicated cancer, and malignant. And NOT the usual type of breast cancer. The next day, the doctor gave the family the bad news. All Daria could recall were the words "Cancer," "VERY aggressive," "Begin treatments NOW!" and "Chicago hospital." (Part 2) (LAST CALL NEWESTER! Part 3) [Part of the "Season in Hell" series]
• Unnamed story, by Chris Tucker (COMPLETE!): The two women watched the amazing images on the TV. "You know, we can say we knew her 20 years ago, when she was just another high school student."
  

CORNHOLIO RETURNS!!!

It has been reliably reported that Mike Judge is working on a new series of Beavis and Butt-head cartoons for MTV. No joke. That tremendous boom you heard was the collective jaws of all Daria and B&B fans hitting the ground everywhere on Earth. Is 9th grade Daria returning on that show, too? If not, will all the other background characters of classic B&B be back: Cassandra, Todd, Stewart, Mr. Van Driessen, and everyone else? Will B&B again appear in high school, or will they have moved on to college or postgraduate work? Will they have aged? Will Beavis again yell, "FIRE! FIRE!" What other marvels and wonders are in store? Can we stand the tension before our heads explode? I doubt it.

By awesome coincidence, today is the 16th anniversary of the premiere of "The Great Cornholio," a B&B episode that featured Daria. Cornholio was one of B&B's cosmic epic wins. And someone just wrote a song to go with it, to the tune of a Lady Gaga hit. Will the super-epicness never cease? The episode is somewhere in this collection of episodes on the MTV site, if you wish to see it.

Cornholio's first words to Daria were: "You have TP? TP for my bunghole?" Daria's first words to Cornholio were, of course: "Get outta here, Beavis!"

In news closer to home, this is the 1,700th post on the DFB2. The DFB2 also celebrates 40 followers and almost 180,000 hits in its three years of life. Thank you all! Hope to keep you happy.

As a side note, today is Saint Swithun's Day. Those who know about weather know that if it rains today, it will continue to rain for another 40 days. Or so it is said. We shall see.

Welcome to the DFB2! (a message for the new fans)

From the time MTV announced it was releasing the Daria DVD set, this blog's followers have more than doubled in number, and it has now collected over 165,000 hits. Lots of new fans and former fans were drawn in by the DVD set. You are always welcome here, and the fandom is glad to have you.

It might help to say a few general words about this blog and the Daria fandom's other party places on the Internet.

This blog was set up about 2.5 years ago, long before anyone know of the DVD release, as a multipurpose watering hole for this fandom. (Yes, there was a DFB before this one, but is is now inactive.) The giant links directory at left was put together to help people find the current hot spots as well as get nostalgic over the long-ago sites of glory. A lot of the Daria art here was recovered from long-extinct MTV and fan sites using the WayBack Machine, which is why it looks official (it was, at one time) but possibly unfamiliar. The sounds bites that play when you click on certain images came from the Daria's Sick, Sad Life Planner CD and various WAV collections online. And my colleagues and I add little notes about famous (or stupid) things that happened each day, usually related to Daria or just quirky enough that Daria would have liked them seeing them on Sick, Sad World. This blog thus imitates the SSLP, which also announced interesting anniversaries and holidays.

The main day-to-day function of the DFB2 is to list newly completed Daria fanfiction, as much of it as can be found. I might have missed a few recent stories, sorry, but am fixing that. If you know of a website where new Daria fanfiction is appearing, let me know.

EXTRA NOTE: I also frequently update and correct postings in the blog, so check back in every so often to see what's new, especially looking for NEW! tags.

And you can comment on anything Daria-ish here using the Comments section below each post. Try to stay current, because not many people will backtrack to read it.

The main message board for actual written conversation is at the PPMB (see links at left). Going off topic at least once in every thread is a requirement.

Any questions or comments are welcome. Glad to have more fans here! Now let's see if that Mystic Spiral TV series can get going...

FF.net

• Secret Plans and Clever Tricks, by Fringeperson (COMPLETE!): Every Saturday that Quinn had a date, Daria slipped into the overly pink and frilly room, tip-toed her way to the closet, and removed something. It didn't matter much what, but she carefully picked things that she was certain Quinn wouldn't miss – that is to say, things she had bought long enough ago she had probably forgotten about them. This item she then carefully photographed and folded, then put up for sale over the internet. As a small support for her father, she carefully divided the money from the sales and deposited a third into his bank account. Admittedly, Quinn would probably just spend it before their father even noticed the money had gone in, but Daria figured that if it spared her another trip into some national park where they would try to be one with nature, and just end up high on berries, then it was worth it.
• Technicolor Dream, by Miss Pennyfeather (Part 2): Trent sank his head under the pillow and stopped thinking. Soon he'd be in dream land and he'd forget everything about this unannounced interruption into his otherwise peaceful, uneventful life. He wasn't sure whether he had locked the front door, but he didn't care. He was going to fall asleep. But one eye remained open, one eye refused to close. He was staring at the darkness around him and he was thinking. Was it the music that was getting to him? Was it the gig? Was it the fact that he couldn't remember his mom's face? Was it the annoying mail box in front of their house? The name "Mystic Spiral" made him depressed too, but it had never caused personality deviations before.
• That's What You'll Take to the Grave, by Mediancat (COMPLETE!): After two rings, the person on the other end picked up. "Hello?" "G, it's Daria. I got a favor to ask." "Certainly. How can I be of assistance?" "Tell me what you know about todhunter demons." (Daria/Buffy the Vampire Slayer) [Story completes saga begun here and continued here.]
• While the Bat's Away: The Substitute, by Echopapa (continued): After Principal Li gave Ms. Dahl directions to her classroom, she closed the door behind her and went over to the picture window overlooking the Lawndale High campus. True, she could see more by studying the security monitors, but sometimes there was nothing like surveying things one's own eyes to give one a feeling of power. Another crisis averted, she thought. My efforts to keep Laaawndale High running smoothly never end... "Eh?" Her reverie was interrupted by the beeping of her phone. (Daria/DC Justice League)
  

PPMB

• The Dream of the White Darkness, by jtranser (continued): The magazine was one of Daria's guilty little secrets, one she indulged in only when at conferences out of town, away from anyone she knew. She'd go to the local book/magazine store, pick up a copy, pay for it, have it sacked and then take it directly to her car. Later, in her hotel room, she'd fix a mojito, turn on her mp3 player loaded with Martin Denny tracks, stretch out and read the latest issue of Modern Popular Culture Magazine. Within were such articles as: "Desperate Suburban Homemakers and Desensitized Robots equal Disappointed Love!", "Astral Freakout", "Repressed Hostility and Guilt: Your House Plants Know!"
• NEWER! The Ephemeral Ties that Bind, by Thecoffeeguru (continued): "Well, let me introduce myself. My name is Mrs. Manson and I am the student psychologist at Lawndale High. It is my job to..." "What kind of school employs a psychologist? Shouldn't you be an ex-hippie with a made-up certificate in motivational counseling?"
• LAST NEWEST! Eye of the Beholder, by GlitterShrooms (Part 2): After a brief phone call, Helen stood up in her office. She looked around with a smile. It was that time of week. Walking around, Helen closed her office’s blinds, and dimmed the lights. It wouldn’t be too long before she heard that sacred knock. Knock. Knock. “You can come in,” Helen said. Sandi Griffin entered the room wearing her French maid costume.
  
• MOAR NEWEST! Falling into College: The Clip Show, by RLobinske (Part 10): Seated at her computer desk, Daria looked over her shoulder and sighed. "You know, after all this time, I should be used to the weird feeling that someone is about to do something very strange to me. Alien adoptions, supernovas, long-term amnesia. You name it, someone's done it to me. That's why I subscribe to Angst Guard. So that no matter what is done to me, I can bounce back in the next story as good as new."
  
• Finn Morgendorffer 46: Shields Up, by HolyGrail2007 (COMPLETE!): It did not take long for rumors to spread at the school. After all, Barch was unexpectedly gone. While the males of the school may have been grateful for it, they were also curious. After all, if something could be done to get rid of Barch just like that, anyone would want that sort of power. Finn wasn’t sure if he should tell the truth. Stories got distorted very easily...
  
• The Hallowed Halls of Fielding, by Roentgen (Part 30): The students in Goodlet's class still segregated themselves. There were the "brains," who were a small group to themselves. There were the "average" and there were the "low" —Quinn's natural group, consisting of herself, Patty Clark, and a girl named Madeline de la Rosa. Each group approached the material at a different level; Quinn, Patty and Madeline approached at "survival." Even so, Quinn found herself listening in to the other two groups. And, amazingly, Quinn could actually understand what they were talking about. The really smart kids were riffing on the material, their questions half-reinforcement and half "can you top this?" as if they were trying to give each other an impossible exam that would be even worse than Goodlett's. (FF.net)
• Into the Fray, by Minx (Part 10): "From what we’ve been told, they use the women and children as bait and bargaining chips to get the men that are fit enough to fight to cooperate.” Trent paused and looked at the three girls. “Which is why we need to be careful. For all we know this guy is using you three as bait and fooling you into thinking he is a good guy, to lure us out of hiding.” “Why would they go to all of that trouble? It sounds like a waste of time; this isn’t one of those cop drama movies or whatever,” Quinn said. “Really? ‘Cause last I checked we were running around in a would-be war zone. Didn’t it cross your minds that this Sam guy is playing the good cop role, promising to bring back news on your folks so that we would welcome him back, only to realize that it was an ambush?”
• LAST NEWEST! John Lane 46: Substitute Plans, by RLobinske (Part 1): Ms. Ruiz paced back in forth in Principal Li's office beside Ms. Barch and Mr. DeMartino. "Might I remind you that was part of what made me agree to hire on to your school?" Ms. Barch cut to the subject at hand. "Do we get our raise or not?!" Ms. Li calmly said, "Better! A new coffee maker in the teachers' lounge."
  
• NEWEST! Judith Strikes! Opening Gambit, by Erin M. (Part 1): It was a dead world, and had been for some time. Civilization had its time and had moved on, quietly and with little fanfare. There were still some traces though. A few buildings still stood relatively undamaged and were still structurally sound. One of these was a large, red brick, two story house on a quiet suburban street. While a majority of the windows were shattered and blown out, the rest of the house was still intact. The lawn was yellowed and dead. If anyone was still around to look in the garage, they would have found an old red SUV sitting in there, also long dead form disuse. The interior of the house wasn't much better. The elements had taken over in the years since the end and the furniture was rotted and unusable in most of the house. In the living room were the remains of six human skeletons, all jumbled together in a pile in the center of the room. They, too, hadn't been disturbed in years.
  
• NEWER! A New Set of Rules, by Dennis (Part 12): The next two days were only slightly more productive than her library foray, so Daria was in what could charitably be called a foul mood when the wall buzzer heralded Kevin's arrival for his study session. She expressed her irritation by greeting him over the intercom with a hearty, “What the hell are you bothering me for?” His puzzled response, “Uh, to meet your for our tutoring session?” did nothing to reduce her annoyance, but rather than unleash a blistering string of profanities, she turned around and stalked from her room without further speech. On her arrival at the check-in desk, Kevin gave her an attempt at a mollifying smile, but she chose not to accept it. Without even looking at him, she signed him in and turned back to the hallway with a grumbled, “Come on, dumbass.”
  
• Shining Star: Temporal Conundrum, by RLobinske (COMPLETE!): Ringbearer Jane led the others to the Gateway Café just off the main plaza of Terra Beacon One. "Now everybody, just have a seat and order what you want, on me." Daria said, "Where are you going?" "I've got to go explain to the Ringmasters why I've brought four unauthorized persons and a car here. I'm sure that they've noticed by now and… they'll have questions." "Blame it on me," Daria said. "Oh, I will," Jane said. (FF.net)
  
• NEW! A Sick Sad Interview, by Abe (COMPLETE!): How did I get myself into this situation, anyway? Oh yes, of course: Jane. "Hey, they've got positions available for a junior reporter/interviewer and an assistant animator/graphics artist! With any luck, we can work there together!" and "Come on, it's Sick, Sad World!" So we get hired, and they stick Jane in a cubicle in an office building, doing stuff only very distantly related to her art, and send me all the way out to this one-horse town to interview some nut-case.
• LAST NEWEST! Tracksuits, by Malakite (Part 7): Quinn made her way back to the STET's main hallways, then stepped past the dozens of people who had received the glorious gift of early Renewal. Most of the recoverable wounded had already been removed for processing, along with the obsolete. After a few minutes of growing irritation at getting yet more blood on her boots, she found the man she was looking for, "supervising" a clean-up crew. With her friendliest voice she called to him. "Hello, Preacher." "Ah, good day Agent." He paused, then with his gaze sweeping over the bloodied piles, added, "or perhaps not so good."
  
• NEW! Unnamed alternate ending (Finn Morgendorffer 46: Shields Up), by Brother Grimace and TAG, continuing a story by HolyGrail2007 (COMPLETE!): Twenty years later, Finn woke up in his bed to find a frazzle-haired figure beside him, holding a two-handed axe high over her head, The mad figure looked down in triumph. "Never make an enemy you can't kill," hissed Angela Li.
  

The Artist as Art

Hey. Not much happening today. Some good fanfic just came out, though. Here 'tis. Plus, Jane Lane as abstract art, from the Daria's Inferno computer game. Enjoy.

BRAKING GNUZ! C.E. Forman (yes! that one!) wants to PARTY!!! Go to this link and check it out!

FF.net

• NEW! The Fate of the Duels, by a440 (prologue and Part 1): Translated from the Spanish as "the meadows," that name was somewhat of a misnomer as there was almost hardly any green, save for the gardens, house yards in the burbs, and golf courses here and there. But here in Sin City, as it was called, that hardly mattered because the only green to found there was money. And money was what most people came here to gamble for.
• NEW! The Pole, by Quinnley1 (COMPLETE!): [story contains adult themes] One day, I found myself in desperate need for a large amount of money or else I would have to choose between paying for my textbooks and eating. It was the first and only time I had really mishandled my money, and for a Trent-related incident no less. I decided that the side waitressing job wasn't enough, so I asked the manager to let me dance for one night. With my need to justify everything, I even managed to convince myself that stripping would be a great thesis study for my Study of Modern Society class.

PPMB

• Finn Morgendorffer 43: A Tale of Three Schrecters, by HolyGrail2007 (COMPLETE!): “Do you mind telling me what your hand was doing on that part of my son’s body?” Helen asked. Her voice was level and very calm.
• The Hallowed Halls of Fielding, by Roentgen (Part 25): Sometimes I wish I could be like Quinn, Daria thought. When it comes to academics, she just doesn't give a damn.
• NEW! Exercise Time for Scarlett the Fairy, by Aloysius (COMPLETE!): Scarlett the Fairy looked at the pistol aimed at her face, her expression calm and collected. Yes, she was facing the business end of a .44-Magnum Ruger Super Blackhawk, and yes, one bullet would be enough to blow her to bits and ruin her day. But she wasn't worried.
• NEW! A Visit to the Church, by Aloysius (COMPLETE!): It was the depression of a Sarah Palin landslide victory that caused Daria to go on a three-day bender. She was finally lucid on Saturday, November 10, and sat up in the bed. O.K., she thought. Where am I and how did I get here? “I see that you’re awake,” the man said.
  

Moar Gud Gnuz!

Kara Wild continues to update the DVDaria situation for this lucky fandom, and it looks like we are about to receive an extraordinary treat next year. Now we've really got something to smile about! (More updates here.)

Good thing, too, because I was running out of acorns to sacrifice to the Great Bright-Eyed and Bushy-Tailed One.

The quarter million fans at the Facebook site are talking. Reactions are coming in from the Television Without Pity message board, too.

Think maybe we can drop some hints about repairing the broken links to flipbooks on the official MTV Daria website? We would dearly love to see them!

XTER GUD GNUZ

• Jim North has opened up a new shared Dariaverse for fanfic writers! Go to it!

BREAKING NEWS!

Kara Wild has been in touch with The Powers That Be about the DVD Daria set....

AND IT'S COMING FOR REAL!

Click the link and read the story, with information on what the set might include! Most EXCELLENT! Thank you, Kara! and thank you, Viacom/MTV!

You may go outside and scream for joy now. Thank you.

New News That Doesn't Suck!

Wonderful, the kind of stuff you can dig up on the Internet.

On PPMB, Kara Wild just announced that an article about Daria on DVD appeared in the French magazine Télérama (July 15, 2009 issue). The French have christened Daria as l’antipom-pom girl, which I think is French for "outcast."

Not to be outdone, Kara has also posted a notice that PPMB can now be accessed using the thepaperpusher.com address, which she managed to acquire. HOORAY!

TEN YEARS AGO TODAY: Martin Pollard invented the term "anti-'shipper" in an essay for this fandom.

The guidelines for Daria chat using IRC have been revised. Click the link for more.

LAWNDALE ONLINE is lookin' pretty snazzy nowadays. Check it out.

The Daria Fan Club now has 1,349 members. Do it to it.

ART! ART! ART! Richard Lobinske has updated the 2009 Daria Visual Fanworks list.

Toonopedia's webpage for Daria has a yukky, out-of-focus picture from "Esteemsters." We should direct the webmaster to a nicer looking image.

I'm still updating fanfiction for today a few posts below this one. Discovered a previously unknown Daria crossover on FF.net. Gotta be more careful, hate to miss stuff.

TO DO LIST: I need to update the Big List o' Fanfic before the end of this month. I've missed updates for the last 10-12 weeks. Sorry, real life and all that.

Stay tuned.

Burning Down the House

Nine years ago today, one of the best episodes in the Daria series was aired for the first time: "Fire!" (At right, Quinn tries to find something fashionable to wear before she escapes the blaze, complaining to Sandi about it all the while.) "Fire!" was the first element in a three-part arc of closely related stories about the development of the relationship between Daria and Tom Sloane. The best webpage on this episode (IMHO) is on DariaWiki, which contains many links to commentary on the episode and some interesting trivia bits. More episode pages should be like this one.

It seems to me that "Fire!" is one of those points from which quite interesting "what if" worlds could be created.

• What if Tom Sloane showed no interest at all in Daria, being faithful to Jane to the end? This would require some modification of "I Loathe a Parade," of course, but it's interesting.
• What if the fire in the Morgendorffers' home had spread and become worse, leading to serious injuries or fatalities, or the complete loss of the home?
• What if Tom and Daria were run over by the floats while... oh, right, not so much angst. Sorry.
• You get the idea. Last chance to turn away from disaster in the next episode. Also, there was that stalker Bobbie, Sandi's interesting interest in dumping bodies, Stacy in a bikini and cowboy hat, etc.
• What if Trent was a superhero whose superpower was ethereal transference? I don't know either, but it sounds interesting.
  

NEWZ PHLASH! The announcement of Daria's 2010 release on DVD has gotten around. The following are some interesting news items about this. It's worth giving them a look because some have whistles and bells with them, like pictures and even short animated segments. Enjoy.

• Daria Headed to DVD in 2010 (Animation World Network)
• Role Models: The Return of Daria (SignOn SanDiego)
• La La La La La: Daria's Coming to DVD! (Paste Magazine)
• A High Schooler Has Hard Times on MTV's New Show [brief mention of Daria in article about a VERY weird planned show, OMG] (BuzzSugar)
• Excuse Me? Daria Finally Coming to DVD (TV Squad) [see also these posts]
• Daria - 'Coming to DVD'? Yes (TVShowsOnDVD)

Stay tuned!

XTRA GNUZ! Richard Lobinske has updated the list of 2009 Daria Visual Fanworks! Hooray!

And now for the fanfiction. Jeepers, people sure write enough of it around here.

PPMB

• Iron Chef: Daria Is Raven's Apprentice, by Project Pegasus & company (continued): [The rudeness never ends. ]
• Daria the Hoosier, by Doggieboy (Part 4.5): She saw a cardboard box just under the bed near a small table with a lamp and a clock radio. Seeing an analog clock on a radio blew her mind, though she did see a digital clock radio in the kitchen earlier. Apparently, they’re still new on the market, she thought.
• Legion of Lawndale Heroes Gold Team 1:5: Fish or Fry, by Roentgen (continued): It was Lance that suggested that the five of them go to see what Thomas "had been working on" as a diversion. This involved the five of them getting in the Maybach and driving out to God Knows Where in El Paso. "What about Daria?" said Tom. "I'm sure she'll be fine. We'll be coming back!" Villacana acted to reassure Tom. "Oh Pope, not even of age you're already shackled to the old ball-and-chain! Let's have a "'boy's day out!'"

Give Me an F!

"Malled" premiered 12 years ago today, and "The F Word" 9 years ago. Interesting that Jane tried out a number of roles in the course of the show, but Daria tried out only one. Jane went for cute girl (at right), track runner, retro girl, cheerleader, all sorts of stuff. She even tried out as a tattoo.

I think Daria will still be working on that one lone role when she turns 30. Not Jane, though. "Daria, don't you think you have enough cats in this apartment?"

Big surprise coming soon. Get ready for it.

MOAR GNUZ: The Daria Fandom Drinking Game has gone into overdrive. Bottoms up!

Brother Grimace is searching for information on zombies. I am sure he has a perfectly valid reason for doing so. If you can help him out, click the link.

Some interesting, newly expanded webpages on DariaWiki:

• Dennis
• Great Zack Walkabout
• Mack Mackenzie
• Paperpusher's Message Board
• Ringbearers

FF.net

• Apocalyptic Daria: Brave New World, by Doggieboy80, a.k.a. Doggieboy (Part 7): Everyone gathered in the driveway at a little before ten. Trent shook everyone’s hand, except Daria, who he hugged briefly. “Take care of Martin,” he whispered in her left ear. “I think he likes you.” The auburn-haired teen felt a tear well up in her right eye and smiled. “I think so, too,” she whispered back. “I hope you and Pam stay happy together.”
• Apocalyptic Daria: Scarlett's Tale, by Doggieboy80 (Part 7): Scarlett learns a lot about proper meat preparation, but she still forgets to get enough barbecue sauce beforehand.
• Lambda, by SigDiff (Part 7): "Get up, you vile, bastard male!" Anthony DeMartino was fairly certain he had woken up in hell, until his vision cleared...
• A Twisted Little Corkscrew, by Dennis (COMPLETE!): "I hate this place," Daria grumbled as she handed over her shawl to the tuxedoed coat check boy. The youth—probably in his twenties, and already on the make, Daria thought—gave her an odd look, but said nothing. She took her claim ticket and gave him a sneer before heading into the main hall.
• Unnamed Crossover Fanfic 1, by Pinkminx (Part 3): Daria poked the reheated lasagne that sat in a sloppy wet mess on her plate and glanced up watching the mirrored movements of her sister "Ugh this is disgusting, Mom promised she'd be home tonight for dinner, she made me cancel my date for this." She whined as she pushed her plate across the table.

PPMB

• Rings and Things That Cannot Go Together, by Ranger Thorne (continued): As a figure crashed through the wall of the training room they almost hit Jane. Jumping back as she yelled in surprise, she raised her ring toward the man pulling himself off of the floor. “Robert?” she asked the familiar figure. “Busy now,” he said, diving back into the room.
  
• Something Is Rotten in the State of Lawndale, by Kristen Bealer (Part 1): Daria does Hamlet? You ain't never read great Shakespeare till you've read this! SAMPLE: Daria Hamletdorffer trudged down the stairs, feeling melancholy. Part of her unhappy mood came from the dreariness of the evening. Part of her unhappy mood came from being saddled with a last name like "Hamletdorffer."
• Unnamed story (Scenes No Daria Fanfic Should Have: TGIF), by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): Daria meets Bill O'Reilly on FOX News. Ouch. At least it was balanced and fair.
  

Updates with Upchuck

A nice shot of Upchuck from an older version of the MTV website leads us into some news and updates (part one). The treasure-mining of MTV sites will go on later. I'm saving one of the best things I found for next.

The Daria Fan Club is up to 755 members today.

Another fanfic review is posted on the gates of Fortress CINCGREEN.

Scissors MacGillicutty, Richard Lobinske, Roentgen, Quiverwing, Brother Grimace, and others forge ahead creating content for DariaWiki, now up to 1,730 articles.

On PPMB's DVDaria and More forum we find Daria fading from cultural radar, a disturbing new thread begun by Reese Kaine. I hope this isn't true.

Oddly, in all my searching, I've not been able to find some of the things described in the PPMB thread, Salvaged from the MTV Web Site, which included stuff saved on fans' hard drives for years. The Mystik Spiral fan club card, for one thing, is nowhere in sight. I think some flipbooks are missing from the WayBack Machine, and those will be very hard to find. The search will go on.

And now, FANFIC GOODNESS!


FF.net

• Basic Training: a Daria the Green Lantern story, by echopapa (Chapter 2): Daria meets a new (super) friend. Artie meets . . . something different.
• Horse Sense, by Smileyfax (COMPLETE!): This was a crossover I never expected to see!
• A Little Vacation, by Doggieboy80 (up to Chapter 14: Buster's Farewell)
• Voluntary Simplicity, by medea42 (COMPLETE!): A look into Trent's life that I won't even describe except to say it is brilliant. Read it.

SFMB

• The Other Side of Time 2: And All That We've Won (continued): Jane and Amy learn firsthand how the South was won.
• Size Does Matter, by Blackhole (Part 19): DeeDee . . . hmmm, she seems awfully familiar somehow.

More on the way, as you would expect.

PPMB and SFMB are saved! Hooray!

The title says all. Playgrounds are open again. Major PPMB update coming tomorrow.


Party on!

We Have a Special Announcement . . .

Outpost Daria is once again opening for business.






You may now go outside and scream your heads off. Thank you.