Tweeting Before Twitter

Daria has certainly gotten into the spirit of Whistleblower Day, although the day is more about people reporting corruption than literal whistles. Still, this could be a good opportunity to expose Ms. Li's many crimes! Just kidding...there isn't enough time in the world to document all of those.

Perhaps it would help if Daria enlisted Jane to assist, especially because it's International Day of Friendship. Nothing says friendship like taking on The Man...which in this case is a woman.

Let's be honest, though: Daria's far more likely to stay home with a good book in honor of Paperback Book Day than take on a broken system. I don't blame her, because books of any binding are generally more appealing than, well, anything else.

Like, Glub!

Sandi almost has the right idea for World Snorkeling Day, except that she's clearly scuba diving rather than snorkeling. Oh, and you aren't supposed to hold hair dryers or any other electrical devices while doing either activity.

While we wait for Sandi to get the shock of her life, Daria and Jane can celebrate International Day of Friendship. In fact, their relationship is close enough that they may even decide to go for Share a Hug Day! Hm...maybe they aren't quite that close.

Fanfic Update!

• Convergence on Lawndale, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 9): "As Stacy returned to her seat, she tried to ignore Sandi’s glare. 'What was that about, Stacy?' the latter asked. 'Um, nothing,' Stacy said."


• Friend of a Friend, by Doggodoaattack (part 8): "'Daria, get up. Janes here.' Glancing at her alarm clock, she saw it read 9:30. Her mother must be losing her mind, Jane was never awake that early on a weekend."


• Grant Writer's Block, by welltemperedclavier (parts 11 and 12): "No one at Daria's company objected when she'd given her two weeks' notice and finished her time working remotely from the Morgendorffer home, now darker and quieter and dustier than it had ever been." (Part 12)


• It was only a kiss..., by DIsaac (parts 1 and 2): "My mind just started racing with every single thought I could imagine or even think of after finishing what I just did with Daria." (Part 2)


• taken by someone who makes me better, by wwzelda (COMPLETE!): "Twenty years after leaving Lawndale for college and never looking back, Jodie finds herself back for Lawndale High's reunion."


• Titanic - A True Story, by Sheila Wisz Ellayn (parts 3 - 5): "Larry had heard all kinds of stories about Edward John Smith, the greatest and most respected Captain in the entire White Star Line, everyone in Southampton knew about him, the man was famous... and yet, standing in the living presence of the legendary Captain Smith was a totally new experience!" (Part 4) (Part 5)


• you were right in front of me, by wwzelda (COMPLETE!): "When Daria nearly gets into a bad car accident, she doesn’t think to call her parents, her sister, or even her boyfriend."

Those Squirrels Won't See It Coming

Here we see Jake preparing to meet Corporal Ellenbogen at the Buxton Ridge reunion, ready to make birthday boy Arnold Schwarzenegger proud. I could see Jake as an Arnold fan, actually. It's not such a big leap from John Wayne to Arnold Schwarzenegger when you really think about it.

Today is also International Day of Friendship, so hopefully Daria and Jane will enjoy each other's company and not think about certain past events better left unmentioned. The last thing we want is for Jane to borrow one of Jake's guns.

Fandom News!

• Vote in the Deathmatch poll between Revy of Black Lagoon and Bo of Nite Owls.


• R.I.P., Dusty Hill.

I'll Be--Gahhh!

Jake's either a time-traveler from the future bent on destroying all squirrels or he's got a cool new cosplay for Arnold Schwarzenegger's birthday today. Then again, there's no reason it can't be both.

Meanwhile, Daria and Jane are probably celebrating International Day of Friendship by...eating pizza and watching Sick, Sad World, I imagine. It's not like either of them is into arbitrary holidays, after all.

Fandom News!

• Discuss Germany's beer bottle crisis.


• Vote in the Deadliest Warrior polls between Matt Burch from Operation Repo and Chumlee from Pawn Stars, Frankenstein's Monster and Leatherface, and Mr. Slate and Mr. Spacely.


• Answer Dervish's question about entertainment in the Trek-verse.

That Fateful Self-Esteem Class....

Let's revisit this important moment for Daria and Jane in honor of International Day of Friendship. Their friendship may have been a troubled one--going up against natural disasters, stolen boyfriends, and hair dye, to name a few--but it seems to have persevered all the same.

Fandom News!

• tjdolf is trying to find a place to download Mystic Spiral recordings.


• Daria is on the air again, thanks to MTV Classic!


• Watch Erin M.'s video response to Batman: The Killing Joke and share your thoughts as well.

Hasta la Vista, Jakey!

Jake's got a very special birthday greeting for Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was born on this day in 1947 and is perhaps best known from the Terminator movies. Then again, maybe Jake's just finally going after that damn sadistic waiter and his lousy "decaf" coffee.

Today is also International Day of Friendship, so Daria and Jane should get together for some pizza and Sick, Sad World. Unless Jane's still upset about the Tom thing, in which case she may decide to borrow one of Jake's guns instead.

Fanfic Update!

• Daria: College Pains The Sophomore Year, by James the Lesser (part 10): "Trent sits on the airplane next to Lindy as they fly over the Pacific Ocean. 'This is a really long flight.' He looks out the window and sees perfect blue waters for miles."


• Dear sister, my best friend, by 11tee (parts 1 - 5): "Jake hung up the phone; he felt like he had been sucker-puunched. This was not how the separation was supposed to work." (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4) (Part 5)


• Freaking Out, by bhut (COMPLETE!): "The night at the Zen was noisy and loud. The fact that it was the Mystik Spiral that provided the entertainment contributed to that factor a lot."


• Kindness is its own reward, by elainefr (part 1): "She stretched languidly on the porch as she enjoyed the morning sun allowing the light to warm her in the coolness of its rise. This was a time she enjoyed so much."


• Lawndale's Finest 3: The Brave and the Bold, by NightGoblyn (part 5): "'I had an interesting conversation with Dr. Klein today,' Elaine said. 'We can talk about it in the car, she has another test she wants to run. Well, we both do, actually.'"


• The Legend of Korra: First Contact, by echopapa (part 1): "'It's not that, Chief. It's...most urgent. There is something that you need to hear. Please come at once.' Beifong sighed. She had a feeling that she would definitely need a Healer after this meeting. 'On my way, Mister President.'"


• Night Witches, by Panzerfaust 150 (part 9): "Daria awoke from her Air Force issue cot for the fifth time that night, or as she glanced with a scowl on her face at her Timex watch, morning."


• Two Lives in Lawndale (Write-Off Challenge 1.2!), by PrecambrianStudios (COMPLETE!): "A young woman with a dyed-pink pixie cut, tattooed from head to toe and with enough piercings to set off a metal detector a mile away entered Axl's Piercing Parlor. Axl himself was slumped over his counter, flipping lazily through a two year old National Geographic magazine."


• With Little Consequence, by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): "Tom paced around the expansive area that served as Jodie’s private laboratory; in the center of the room, Jodie sat between a small desk and a table, never lifting her eyes from a monitor screen on the desk as her fingers moved with purpose across keyboard before her."

Friends, Forgiveness, and Freaks

Today is Friendship Day, and in honor of the holiday I thought I'd share the moment when Daria and Jane first met. Sorry, Quinn and Sandi, but you'll have to wait for Frenemies Day.

This is also International Forgiveness Day, which is also appropriate to Daria and Jane because Jane eventually forgave Daria for the events that took place in "Dye! Dye! My Darling," which was mentioned in the previous blog post. I'm not sure I would have been so gracious in Jane's place, though. Seriously, very bad puns. Blech.

Finally, it was on this day in 1999 that the episode "The Lawndale File" first aired. Three words. Alien. Love. Goddesses.

Fandom News!

• What posters did you have on your walls while you were growing up/while in college?


• Post matches you'd like to see in the new official "vs." thread.


• See the trailer and talk about the upcoming comic series Afterlife With Archie.


• Robyn has round robin fanfic proposal for everyone.


• Jeremy Garrett posted a new Iron Chef in Creative Writing: Rock Over Lawndale.


• Posters share some awesome Trent and Jane cosplays in the Easel.

It's Anti-'Shipper Day! Hooray!

Martin J. Pollard, webmaster of the renown Outpost Daria, invented the term "anti-'shipper" in an essay for this fandom eleven years ago this very day. Thus, today is and forever will be Anti-'Shipper Day. He created the term in honor of Kara Wild's story, "'Shipped Out," which he credits as being the first anti-'shipper tale in Daria fandom. Ms. Wild's tale was written in June 1999.

How does one celebrate Anti-'Shipper Day, you ask, and well you should. The day may best be appreciated by pausing to reflect on the elements working against any romantic pairing displayed either on Daria itself or in Daria fanfiction. Daria/Trent? She's too young, Trent's a bum, and Daria is too obnoxious anyway. Daria/Tom? Tom's a bit too conceited, and Daria is too obnoxious anyway. Daria/Anyone? Daria is too etc., etc. What about Jane/Anyone? Daria will sabotage the relationship to have Jane for herself. You get the idea: always blame Daria, because she deserves it.

Today is also the anniversary of a famous alter-ego birthday, and it is International Friendship Day. For more information on the latter, here is a refreshingly cynical essay describing it. Winnie the Pooh is the holiday's mascot. He is shown at left in a candid moment.

More shortly. Not awake yet.

GnuZ!

• Less than two weeks to go until Midwest Dariacon 2010!
• Tiffany: does she suffer from narcissistic disorder? Does a wild bear use Charmin in the woods?
• NEW! A year ago here, I had a sort of mini-contest for artistic fans to find creative things to do with an old MTV screen background I discovered using the WayBack Machine. Anyone up for trying this again? Can you turn it into a neat-o wallpaper for Daria fandom computers?
  

PPMB

• Daria/Dorian 6: Christmas Chaos, by LadieT (Part 5): "I called your house. Your dad said that your aunts brought you and Janey here. He told me about her ankle. Is she okay?" "Yeah, she's doing okay. She is going to be glad to see you. She's really missed you." "I missed her, too. Do you know what store she's in? I really need to talk to her." "Is everything alright?" "No."
• NEWER! Jane Lane: Ace Attorney—Turnabout Teacher's Pet, by LSauchelli (Part 8): Jane carried on: “Did you see the way she talked to me? Like I was just one of the little idiots we used to make fun of in High School!” She spared a moment to look at Charles, “No offense. But how dares she do that?! What the hell is her problem! I mean, I expect that kind of treatment from Sandi, I’d be retarded not to, but Daria?! Daria?! This is the girl I survived high school with!” “You do realize you’re starting to sound a lot like that old witch at the gym?” said Charles.
• NEWER! MST version of TAG's "Daria 2007: The Girl from Hope" by Charles RB (Part 1 of 9,000 parts): [Won't spoil it for you!]
  
• Pulp Fiction: A Cup of Tea, by Chris Tucker (COMPLETE!): It had been two months since the subway bombing, and James had been, as he put it, "busy". His contacts with Daria and Jane had been minimal, the odd phone call, a quick coffee 'date', and so on. So, it was with some surprise when Daria heard her name called across a noisy Downtown Crossing intersection in a very familiar voice. A quick embrace between friends. "So, what brings you 'round here?" "I got a Border's gift card from my sister for Christmas, and I've finally got some time to use it. I also wanted to get some bagels, too." "Care for an escort, dear lady?" "Why, thank you, kind sir!"
• Raft College: The First Year, by rglovejoy (Part 21): Daria's Thursday afternoon section with Professor Daniels went well enough. The professor asked her to read her story to the class; Daria did so as best as she could. The worst part was the passage where the protagonist, a disgraced Soviet railroad engineer and deserter, and the beautiful NKVD officer (who she named Zhanna Lanski) shared a steamy encounter in a bombed-out Stalingrad railway station. Daria's face turned crimson several times; she cursed herself for not recognizing that she was not the only one who would be reading the story.
• Regifted 2: I Put Away Joyless Things, by Ajar (Part 10): “Hey, David. No, don't turn around.” “But isn't eye contact generally—” “Keep it down, we're still in class. Don't worry about it, I just want to know if you've seen Daria today.” “Maybe.” “What do you mean, maybe?”
• Sleepwalker, by Jim North (continued): The first bus was easy to get into since the door had been left open. Once Daria stepped inside, she could see why. A small hatch just inside the door had been broken into, various tools sat just within. She felt certain that if she checked, she'd find that those tools did not include a tire iron. Once she was inside the vehicle, she quickly scanned the interior. She didn't see anyone, but as it was one of the rental buses and not a school bus, there were dividers under each seat, blocking her view. There could be anyone hiding behind one of the rows of seats, waiting for her to let down her guard.
• The Vision of the Burning Cities, by jtranser (continued): "So how did it go? New semester with the usual pack of eager smiling faces anxious to learn all about Dream Psychology and how to use it for personal discovery, psychological engineering and sexual exploitation?" "No, Jane, that was last night's class. Today it was all about Introductory Psychotronics." "Mind Control, eh? Did they ask you what The Frequency was?"