It Does Look Like a Half-Arted Attempt

It doesn't look like Jane is enjoying Go to an Art Museum Day very much, but perhaps if they displayed a few Jane Lane originals then she'd change her mind. Daria's more interested in medical oddities than artwork, but I'm sure Jane has dragged her along to plenty of art museums during the course of their friendship.

If science is more your thing than art, then enjoy World Inventors’ Day! Andrew Landon could take the opportunity to brag about his folding coffee cup, but then again when doesn't he take the opportunity to brag?

Honestly, just enjoy whatever kind of day you feel like because it's World Freedom Day and I'm not the boss of you. In fact, you could choose to exercise your freedom and disregard World Freedom Day entirely...but that would create a paradox and possibly destroy the universe.

Fanfic Update!

• Daria Crossover: Night of the Short-Skirted Cynic, by Meester_Lee (part 5): "'In the meantime, there’s one more person on board I’d like you to meet,' said West. 'A member of my staff.'"


• Spider Quinn 12 Rise of the Green Goblin, by cfardellbrenorenz29 (COMPLETE!): "The Shadow parked as close as she could to the devastated Hall as she could, given the traffic of people trying to leave the vicinity."

Tell Us What You REALLY Think, Jane!

While Jane is certainly celebrating Go to an Art Museum Day, it doesn't look like she's enjoying the trip very much. Then again, she could just be annoyed that none of the works on display are Jane Lane originals.

If art isn't for you, you could still create something new by celebrating National Inventors' Day! Not the folding coffee cup, though. Andrew Landon already has that particular market cornered.

Whichever holiday you choose, make sure you celebrate wildly because it's Chaos Never Dies Day and, well, you don't want to let the chaos die, do you? Given some of the insanity that happened in certain Daria episodes, I suspect Daria would happily murder it with her bare hands.

Fandom News!

• Vote in the Celebrity Deathmatch poll between Rusty Burrell and Bull Shannon.

"Beautiful, beautiful tryptophane!"

It may be Don't Cry over Spilled Milk Day, but it looks like Jake is neither spilling milk nor crying. Which is good, because the last time he spilled milk he nearly burned the entire house down.

Today is also National Inventors Day, so if there's a gadget you think the world needs then you'd better get cracking. Andrew Landon would like to remind everyone that "folding coffee cup" is already taken.

Fandom News!

• Vote in the Celebrity Deathmatch poll between Judge Judy and Frank Caprio.


• welltemperedclavier posted a new art challenge: Daria-Morrowind.


• Three new Iron Chefs have been posted: Walter Kovacs's Modern Day Daria (Thread II), YouthofOz's Delivery Boy Kevin, and TheBrodsterBoy's Four Post Fashion Scenarios.


• Share badass comic stories in the no power superhero "Like a boss" thread.

"Mad Mack" Is More Than Just a Nickname!

Mack's concocting something extra special for Inventor's Day, but he's got a long way to go if he wants to beat Andrew Landon's folding coffee cup. Judging by how much of that glowing green stuff he's spilling, I'm not sure he's going to accomplish much of anything useful aside from maybe disfiguring himself horribly.

That might work, too, though, because today is also Chaos Never Dies Day. That holiday seems like it be more well-suited to Kevin, but I'm not going to argue with that face.

Fanfic Update!

• Cuckoos On Infinite Earths, by Smijey (part 26): "Janice stood at the edge of the sidewalk leading up to the house. It was lived in, but looked kind of dilapidated, and nobody'd bothered to mow the lawn for the past few weeks."


• Daria Ravenclaw: The Highland Years, by Meester_Lee (part 50): "School started the third week of August, a week after the last day of day camp. Despite Daria's general dislike for exercise and the great outdoors, she found that she missed day camp, at least a little."


• Daria's Great Adventure, by dmsfanman (part 13): "The tension in the colony was palpable. Everyone was on edge. Commander Ramirez had formed two teams. One would engage the approaching enemy at the opening to their valley. The other would protect the nuclear reactor."


• Erin Chambers, by OzFerret (part 11): "Were they dating? Erin hummed as she wandered around her apartment, finalising her nightly rituals. Occasionally she danced a few steps. Her weekend had been perfect."


• Questions of Reality, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 2): "'Good Morning,' Laura Albertson said, as she walked up. Amanda Leigh saw that she continually held her left hand in her short hair as she usually did."


• Second Chance for Love: Summertime Fun, by David Falkayn (part 30): "'There might be some potential within you after all, Ms. Morgendorffer.' Percival admitted to his sole remaining student, a sarcastic grin on his face, as the pair sat in the now empty classroom."


• Thank U (formerly The Wrath of Con), by Lady Evil (part 24): "Jane was sitting on a couch Monday morning at the Thatcher duplex. She petted the white rabbit in her lap as Ollie looked through her sketches, occasionally giggling. 'Oh, this is perfect, Jane!' she was saying. 'You've really captured the essence of Lafayette!'"

You Could Create the Next Folding Coffee Cup!

Mack's concocting something extra special for Inventors' Day, but I'm not sure what it is. It could be a potion to stop Kevin from calling him "Mack Daddy" once and for all, it could be a special blend of chemicals that will end Jodie's constant need to overachieve so she can spend five minutes with him, or it could just be a new formula for Ultra Cola. If you're in the inventing mood, today's the day to try it!

Fanfic Update!

• Burned Out, by Wrabbit7 (part 7): "As usual, Jennifer was staring out the window instead of paying attention to class, so she was especially taken off guard when Ms. Barch called her name with wicked vehemence."


• Daria (and other characters) on the Defiant Round Robin, by Meester_Lee (part 46): "Commander Helia slid out of the nap she'd taken and back to full consciousness, her mind replaying the terrible memories she had of that last battle with the replicators and the knowledge that she'd lost and that the Replicators were on their way to the city to exterminate its inhabitants."


• If Elected, I Will (Not) Serve, by JoeMerl (part 1): "Well, the 2016 presidential election is finally over, and the results are terrible. Please note that I'm writing this before I actually hear them."


• Reclamation, by SacredDust (part 7): "Tom didn't go to history class that day. What was the point? He knew the subject like the back of his hand, and besides, he couldn't stomach a whole day of Fielding. Speaking of his stomach, he was starving. Don't look at the thermos, Tom, he told himself. Don't even think about it."


• So this is Real Life, I want my money back, by Kuriamo22 (COMPLETE!): "Daria held a bagel in her mouth while trying to quickly park her Kia Soul into the first open parking spot she could find in this church's parking lot. Though it only took her ten minutes it felt like forever as she was in a bit of a rush."


• Thanksgiving, by dmsfanman (part 2): "Tom looked out the bedroom window. Thanksgiving morning had dawned a cold and gray day. There were no people visible in the parking lot or the piece of the campus visible from the window."


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef : MMORPG, Lawndale style), by Waylander (part 20): "Like all the ground-shattering events in Fielding Prep, the fallout between Tom Sloane and his best friends started with a small disagreement. They felt that Tommaso the Half-Elven Adventurer was slowing the trio down."


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: The Final Session), by tjdolf (COMPLETE!): "Manson: If you're not going to talk to me, I don't think these sessions serve any purpose. Andrea: (shrugs)"

So THAT'S Why They Call Him "Mad Mack"!

Mack's concocting something especially good for Inventors' Day, although it might just be a potion that will stop Kevin from calling him "Mack Daddy" once and for all. Or one that will force Jodie to scale back on the overachieving and actually spend more than five minutes with him. Either way, the kid seems to be having fun!

Fanfic Update!

• Daria Universe (I Dare You to Continue This), by neonhomer (part 1): "Jane sighed and pulled a spiral notebook out of her bag. 'Okay, Trent wants to exchange songs with "The Holidays".' 'So why are we going?'"


• Evicted, by breitasparrow (part 1): "Wal-Mart had reconstructed itself in South Park since its demise, and the civilians were once again left with no other places to shop. Stan went with his mom to buy some groceries, and when they got to the checkout, it took incredibly long for the clerk to ring up their purchases."


• Invader Quinn, by Anguirus1955 (parts 3 and 4): "Quinn reclined back in her seat as she watched a procession of data stream down her computer monitors. She looked over at GIR, who was busy eating some kind of Earth confection." (Part 4)

Kevin Will Never Call Him "Mack Daddy" Again! Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Today is National Inventors' Day, in honor of the anniversary of Thomas Edison's birth in 1847. So go ahead and invent something! Not a folding coffee cup, though--that's already been done.

Fanfic Update!

• After the Disaster :: Chapter Three, by Fhujeth_x (parts 2 and 3): "Sandi leaned over the sink and applied a new coat of lipstick, 'I think she is just shy or something.' The Fashion Club President shrugged, "Whatever." Pausing Sandi looked at Stacy, 'We should finish interviewing her, unless you think her lack of personality would be better left to the birds.' Opening a bag, Stacy pulled out a notebook and began to write down some things, 'I think we should finish interviewing her...'" (Part 3)


• At the Crossroads...(Chapter 5), by oni (part 3): "The classroom intercom came on with the voice of Ms. Li that filled the room. 'Would Miss Rowe and Miss Griffin please come to the front office, now?' As soon as the message ended, Sandi knew that Brooke was somehow behind it. Stacy turned around in her chair and looked Sandi with fear in eyes. In a whisper, Sandi said, 'Everything will be ok, so don’t worry.'"


• The Author as a Lesbian, Season 5, by DeacBlue (COMPLETE!): "'What's wrong?' Jen asked, having just entered the room. 'Oh, the usual. Jane's crying over milk that isn't only spilt, but has dried and gone way past its expiration date.' 'Ah.' Jen kissed her wife softly. 'Jen, you have to get over it. We decided that if the situation changed, it was worth it. Unfortunately, the situation changed.'" (IICY?)


• A Cardboard Box (IC: Without you...), by InvisibleDan (COMPLETE!): "When Daria did come back to school, she acted the same as before, but there was something different about her. All of the sarcastic comments she used to make about other kids at school dried up. She didn't hang out at my place too much, and I had to drag her to get pizza. I knew what had happened, but I didn't want to ask her about it. If I did, I was sure she would retreat to her padded bedroom and I wouldn't see her for a long time, if I ever saw her again."


• Cold Comfort (IC: Without you...), by thatLONERchick (COMPLETE!): "She stared herself in the eye, the mirror throwing dingy light back on her tired face, and the deep blue of her irises were muddy with lack of sleep. There were dirty smudges under her eyes and her skin was pale, hair mussed from lack of attention. She was wrong. But it did not matter now."


• A Different Fashion (IC Runaway Daria), by ThanatosRW (part 1): "'I'm sorry Qu-winn, I cannot accept you into the Fashion Club.'"


• Fall (Scenes That Should Be: Breakfast of Zombie Champions), by thatLONERchick and Jim North (COMPLETE!): "The wind blew harder, and Henrietta swayed. A deep breath was drawn and expelled as she looked back on her life, and found herself dissatisfied. She had been pretty, once. Pretty and young and happy. She had fallen in love and married a handsome young man, and given him a daughter. Life was perfect, then. But that life had been taken away."


• John Lane 52: From the Last Step to the First, by RLobinske (parts 8 and 9): "Hearing voices near the entrance, Daria said, 'We have company.' A woman's voice reached them just before the guests were visible, 'Eric!' 'That's not good,' John said as he saw Helen's boss Eric and his wife Harriet enter the gallery." (Part 9)


• My Little Mercenaries - Nightmare (Non-Daria), by Jim North (part 1): "'There is a threat to the queendom that I wish you to investigate and, if possible and necessary, eliminate.' Celestia finished a line, then moved the parchment to a growing stack next to her even as she pulled a fresh sheet over to begin anew. 'I have received reports that a being calling itself Nightmare has been attempting to sow dissent amongst my people.'"


• Quinn Spirit Detective, by Reven384 (part 9): "Quinn was in the hallway and got lost in the crowd of people. She started to look for Stacy. It wouldn’t do for her friend to be woo’d by his non-existent charms. Her cell phone started ringing and she answered it. 'Hello this is Quinn,' she said. 'Hello Quinn,' Charles said, 'I have Stacy.'"


• Rise of the Green Goblin, by Jim North (part 4): "Eventually they would all know her and know that Lawndale was protected from the depredations of evil. For the moment, however, she had to content herself with the knowledge that at least she and Aunt Amy would be protected from the horrifying specter of not having enough milk in the fridge."


• Sandi :: Well... This Sucks :: Chapter 2, by Fhujeth_x (COMPLETE!): "The smell had returned. Except this time it was even more putrid, more gross, more epically disgusting than Sandi could even imagine. How? It was right next to her. 'Hey! So, how'd you do that?' It was Kevin, the QB. He sat down next to the Fashionistas and pulled out his bagged lunch with a grin, 'Are you really like Rat Boy?'" (Part 4)


• Sandi :: Well... This Sucks :: Chapter 3, by Fhujeth_x (part 1): "Sandi made her way over to the light and flipped it on, illuminating the room in all it's brightness again. Reaching for her silver bracelets [of which she hoped to put back on] she took them in her hands, only to once again feel the malicious sting upon her skin, 'Like what the HELL?' She shouted, nearly growling in rage, tossing the jewelry to the floor, 'I got those from Spain!'"


• Stacy, meet Stacy (Rude Awakening X-Tra: Dreams), by DIsaac (COMPLETE!): "RA STACY: Damn, what am I doing here? I tried to avoid going reunions at all cost you know! I mean don't I have one every DAY when I go to work! I MUST be here for SOME reason! (at that moment some girl with pigtails comes running in crying) RA STACY: It better not be who I think it is? Is that ME?"


• Student Bodies (Scenes no Daria fanfic should have: Last Friday Night!), by thatLONERchick (COMPLETE!): "Daria stood in her tank top, a pair opf black spandex booty shorts and knee pads. The music stopped abruptly and she pulled a pair of large, round black shades from behind her back. They snapped onto the front of her glasses and she nodded. 'Check it.'"


• This Fic Sucks (IC: A Different Quinn?), by Reven384 (COMPLETE!): "'Remember girls,' her father said, 'You should give these people a chance.' 'People suck,' Quinn said giggling obscenely."


• We Only Hurt the Ones We Love (IC Runaway Daria), by deneich (part 2): "The Realtor replied, her pleasant smile quickly transforming into a full blown ear-to-ear grin. 'The Morgandorffers not only gave me permission, they left a stack of printed sheets with all their new information: address, phone numbers, new employers...the whole nine yards. Just give me a minute to remember where I put them. Okay Miss...I'm sorry, I didn't ask your name.'"

Invent Yourself Some Freedom!

Hey, everybody! It's Inventors' Day! Inventor Mack is mixing us up some refreshments to celebrate, but in the meantime let's all see if we can come up with anything as creative as Andrew Landon's folding coffee cup.

Today is also World Freedom Day, which sounds kind of vague but is apparently about celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall and victory over Communism. I couldn't find anything that said whether or not the Communists in question were atomic, but we can celebrate all the same. I wonder what the Holiday Island version of World Freedom Day is like?

Fanfic Update!

• 111 Howard Drive (IC: What If The Lanes Weren't Wanderers?), by RX-87 (COMPLETE!): "'Well, here it is,' the dark-haired girl said as she pointed to the moldering ruin with a plump, babyish finger, 'Casa Lane.' 'Cool...' the redhead cooed, grasping the ankh around her neck absently, 'It certainly looks like a haunted house. What's the story on it? And what the heck is that in the yard?' 'Some kinda sculpture,' the dark-haired girl said as she started down the house's front walkway, 'The family who used to live here, the parents were artists. At least they used to be.'"


• Antiestablishmentarian Hikers, by Lawndale Skulker: "Noting Quinn's darkening red face and protruding eyes, Jake tapped Helen on the shoulder and said, 'Helen. Don't kill Quinn, honey. Let Quinn breathe, dear.' Either Quinn's struggling, Jake's words, or his trying to pull her arms apart registered on Helen, and she relaxed her grip. Quinn bent over, rested her hands on her knees, and took a deep, gasping breath. 'Oh, Quinn, I'm sorry!' Helen cried, and would have hugged her again had not Quinn ducked behind Jake."


• The Author as a Lesbian, Season 3, by DeacBlue (part 9): "Jake stood up, raised his fist, growled, 'Why, those lousy, no good -' He looked to his left, where his hand had suddenly fallen to his waist. 'Hey, you know, it's the darndest thing, I can't feel my arm!' With that, he crumpled to the ground. Amid the cries of 'Jakie!' and 'Daddy!' Jen almost dived to the floor. As she pulled Jake straight, she yelled at Daria, 'Call 911!' Feeling at his carotid, she let out a sigh. 'Got a pulse!' She then put her cheek next to his mouth. 'No Breath!'"


• A Family Together (IC: What If The Lanes Weren't Wanderers?), by OverlordMikey (part 1): "Jane turned to a young man. He was fairly well groomed, his face shaved, his hair styled, and clean tidy clothes. Despite his conventional appearance Jane knew he understood her. 'Hey Trent, you back from school already. They kick you out or you just visiting.' 'Funny,' Trent said as he sat beside her. 'I drove down here because your letter made it sound like something was bugging you-'"


• Five Minutes to Midnight , by untra (parts 10 - 12): "I was a little nervous about the concert on Saturday, but I was mostly just afraid my anxiety would kick in and make the experience miserable. Jane reassured me it would be like attending a movie; dark, loud and crowded. People would be standing up, and alcohol would be served. Worst case scenario would be if the anxiety kicked in, and I spent the night sitting in the corner, trying not to scream out in desperation. Best case scenario would be I have fun." (Part 11) (Part 12)


• God Save The Esteem ep37: CSI Don't Care, by Charles RB (parts 1 and 2): "'I WOULD threaten to give EVERYONE an F unless the guilty party came FORWARD, but this RANCID PIT you’ve made of a school is on a KNIFE-EDGE and can’t afford ANOTHER academic scandal! SO! Instead, there’s ANOTHER test tomorrow and I’ll be looking VERY suspiciously at anyone with WILDLY DIFFERENT results... and anyone I JUST DON’T LIKE.' 'Got Kevin coming and going,' muttered Jane." (Part 2)


• In My World, by 45Ranger (part 8): "'I’d like to see some of your work. That is, if you don’t mind.' Daria glanced sharply at Jane, whose eyes widened. 'I’m sorry. Forget I asked. That was rude.' Hearing fear in Jane’s voice and seeing it on her face, and guessing its cause, Daria spoke to reassure her. 'It’s okay. I’m not offended. I thought you were joking. To be honest you’re the first person who’s shown any interest in a long time. Maybe we could trade. My family doesn’t like reading the poetry and short stories and they just don’t get the spy stuff. I don’t blame them. It’s just not their thing.'"


• The Lady and the Tiger, by RLobinske (part 1): "The size of a large Maine Coon cat, the striped feline stretched with great vigor and then jumped over to the sofa to look over the back at his human. 'The first girl to show up was cute. Are you going to see her some more?' Hobbes asked. Scooping empty soda cans and chip bags into a plastic bag, Calvin said, 'As long as you don't scare her off.'"


• A Normal Family (IC: What If The Lanes Weren't Wanderers?), by ST91 (COMPLETE!): "'So Jane, I have spoken to you about my family. Now it's your turn to spill the beans: What dark secrets hide the Lane family?'"


• A QB Grows in Lawndale, by Kristen Bealer (parts 2 and 3): "'Well, stop fighting.' 'Make us!' jeered Pummeler. Kevin shrugged. Plan B, he decided. One of the teachers came running as the sound of anguished squeals filled the gym. 'What are you doing?' she exclaimed to Kevin, who now held a boy's neck under each arm. 'It's, like, extreme mentoring,' he replied." (Part 3)


• Quinn's Code 04: Geekery at the Mega-Mall, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 6): "'Well, well. If it isn't like, the Geekendorffer!' Sandi said as she approached, with the rest of the Fashion Club behind her. 'Of course she would be here!' Quinn said. 'Murphy's Law and all.'"


• Quinn Spirit Detective, by Reven384 (prologue and part 1): "The boy resumed kicking the ball. Quinn shook her head and continued home. She needed to get the gold card from her mom, so she could buy some new shoes. The kid kicked the ball in the road at the same time a car was recklessly zooming towards the kid." (Part 1)

Anyone Need a Folding Coffee Cup?

Today is National Inventors' Day (United States)! You can celebrate with Mack and Quinn, but I wouldn't recommend drinking anything Mack offers you. Just in case. Fantasy Future Daria would join in, but she's working double shifts at the gene splicing lab again. Stupid Fantasy Future Trent.

Fandom News!

• TheExcellentS found someone who really liked SC's Daria/Donnie Darko art--so much that they've got a tattoo of it!


• Did you catch any of the Super Bowl commercials? Which were your favorites?


• Dork started a thread about songs Daria would write / music she'd listen to.


• vlademir1 has some thoughts about recent fanfic trends.


• Liz Ruiz wants to reward the classics of Daria fanfic. Post about your old favorites or PM her some nominations--details in the thread.


• Two new Iron Chefs: Roentgen's Titles and LadieT's Cheer Chef!.


• RLobinske has started the 2011 Daria Visual Fanworks Listing.

Unchain Your Inner Techno-Nerd!

In Europe, this is Inventor's Day in honor of the techno-nerd lurking inside us all. The day was so proclaimed because it was the birth date of an extremely creative actress. In the U.S. this is World Freedom Day, commemorating the fall of the Berlin Wall (20 years ago today). Thanks to Pinhead, again, for the marvelous alter ego.

Richard Lobinske has once again updated the most excellent 2009 Daria Visual Fanworks Listing. Thank you! And Pinhead once again freaks out the fan base with a mind-blasting "small joke." AND a series of Daria/Watchmen sketches have been posted by thatLONERchick.

FF.net

• Sinspiration, by Vlora (Parts 25 and 26): "Can I ask you something?" Daria preemptively hummed under her breath, her eyes focused on the end of Trent’s bed. They had been sitting there for the better part of the day, staring idly at the television that Trent had received from Jesse a few days back. "No." He paused, sensing Daria had taken him seriously. "I was kidding, ask away," he laughed. The girl turned a bemused look toward him before he sighed out a small apology. "What’re we going to do when I head off to Raft?"
  

PPMB

• Anti-Trope 2, by Pinkminx (Part 1): “You know, I hear that Quinn’s brother has been in a mental hospital, and he escaped,” Joey said. “Well, I heard he’s been locked up in the attic since he was born and the only reason he’s allowed out is because the neighbors saw him when they were moving in,” Jamie added. “You’re both wrong. I heard he was in a military academy, and he got expelled for starting a riot. They say five kids died that day,” Jeffy said in a grave tone.
  
• NEW! Daria: Hunter—Suited for Crime, by Jim North (COMPLETE!): Tom fidgeted with his rumpled collar. "You two haven't... talked to anybody about yesterday's events yet, have you?" Jane's frown matched Daria's. "Only the police," she said. "For six hours. What the hell is going on here, Tom?" Tom sighed and rubbed his face. "Okay," he said. "Okay. I don't know everything, but I've been able to figure out some of it. It seems that shortly after you guys left the station last night, DENA showed up." "DENA?" Jane asked in mild consternation. "The Department of Extra-Normal Affairs? Those nuts who try to protect us from little green men that don't exist?" (FF.net)
  
• Finn Morgendorffer 12: Carnivore (COMPLETE!): “We’re just looking at raw footage right now.” Daria informed. Jane had the remote, so she rewound it and played a little of it for Helen. In particular, the part where Stacy was crying at Mack’s party, and Finn’s subsequent freak out. “Oh my.” Helen seemed astounded by her son’s behavior, though Daria knew it wasn’t because of shock. She knew just how callous Finn could be.
• NEW! Finn Morgendorffer 13: Desperate Teenage Boys, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 1): “What about Grove Hills?” Finn asked as he took his seat at the table. Finn knew the name of the school: It was some prep school where they sent a bunch of geeks to be caged like the beasts they were. “Daria’s been invited to tour the campus,” his mother explained. “Oh.” Finn played it cool. If Daria went to school there, she’d be living in the dorms there. She’d no longer be at Lawndale High, or in the house. He’d be free of her influence once and for all—but he couldn’t say that out loud. Helen would just yell at him, and Daria would refuse to go, simply to torture Finn.
• NEW! In Silence Sarcastic, by Trscroggs (continued): Standing out by herself in the back yard was Daria Morgendorffer, but not the one Jodie had grown used to seeing in class the last few days. This Daria was not wearing the bulky jacket and green skirt that marked the mute girl at school. Instead this Daria was wearing a snug t-shirt and shorts that Jodie knew would get even a cheerleader sent to the office to change. This Daria’s shirt was soaked through with sweat. She spun a wooden stick through complicated patterns occasionally interrupted by a vicious elbowing or kick.
  
• Othello, by Dennis (COMPLETE!): Stacy Rowe was finally happy. It was the first week of her junior year, and she was finally blossoming. One of the hottest guys in the school was interested in her. And not as a consolation date after going out with Quinn or Sandi. Her reflection smiled back at her in her bedroom mirror. No, Mack Mackenzie had finally broken up with Jodie and asked her, Stacy Rowe, on a date.
• Rainbow Disconnection, by Disco316 (Part 6): “Would you be dears and bring my books to Ms. Barch’s classroom?” asked Quinn. “There’s a book for each of you.” The three boys thanked Quinn and started to fight over who would end up with Quinn’s binder over her two textbooks. Quinn knew that they wouldn’t think twice about it, since Ms. Barch had said that having the three of them subservient to a woman was sufficient enough reason to cut them some slack… for now.
• Scarlett the Fairy and the Halloween Party, by Aloysius (COMPLETE!): Yes, it was that time of year when children and adults alike celebrate by putting on costumes more outlandish than anything a cosplayer could even think of. Or would want to. No, it wasn’t Let’s Make a Deal. It was Halloween, and in Lawndale, everyone was in the spirit.
• NEW! Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Innocent Bystanders Screw It Up Again!), by Project Pegasus (COMPLETE!): "Ummm . . . Did Ms. Li finally decide to burn the school down for the insurance money?"
  
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Tooth and Nail), by Kristen Bealer (COMPLETE!): As Sandi tackled Quinn, knocking them both into the Brittany-Andrea catfight nearby, Mack finally had enough. Stepping on top of a table, he held his hands up and shouted, "Excuse me!"
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Tooth and Nail), by Richard Lobinske (COMPLETE!): "You snooze, you lose."
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Tooth and Nail), by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): "Ye-e-e-sss? How can I help you, young man?" Helen asked. "Mrs. Morgendorffer, I'm Mack Mackenzie. I'm here to see your daughter."
  

Ponderables to Ponder over a Cup of Java

Lots going on today. First, it's the anniversary of the birth of the Singing Cowboy, Antonio DeMartino Gene Autry. Not sure if DeMartino is trying to be him, but who cares.

It's also the birthday of a piano-pounding star of rock-n-roll's early years, Jerry Lee Lewis, famed for one song in particular (turn up your speakers).

As you see at right, today also marks the start of Michaelmas, and who better than Saint Mack to represent that. Do it to it.

There's more! This is also the 462st anniversary of the birth of Miguel de Cervantes, who wrote Don Quixote. A surprising number of Daria fanfics reference this character, so Cervantes (often credited with the invention of the modern novel) is a solid part of Daria fandom's background.

Do you use ballpoint pens? You should know that today is the anniversary of the birth of the guy who invented them, László József Bíró. Argentina celebrates this event as Inventor's Day.

If you like to read banned books (and who doesn't?), this week is Banned Books Week, and you should go out and get another banned book to read before they are REALLY banned and gone. Srsly.

Finally, this is National Coffee Day in the U.S., and caffeine is good for you, so have another cup. And another. And another. Keep going, no problemo. Remember, a love of coffee (houses) was the root of the whole problem in "Cafe Disaffecto," and it was in "Pierce Me" that Helen Morgendorffer uttered those famous words, "I NEED MY COFFEE!" And why not try out the latest coffee fad? Go for it! Caffeine didn't hurt Ms. Li in "Fizz Ed," did it?

Wow, that was a lot to go over. Have some more caffeine and stay tooned.

A Day for the Creative

Today is Inventor's Day in Europe, and the celebration has a most unusual heroine. Click and see.

I don't know who invented the Dariabot (Robo-Daria? Daria Borg?) at left. I think it is an MTV creation. Anyone know? I can't even remember where I got it. The rings move up and down in the GIF version.

More soon. Need to get some sleep.

AWAKE AGAIN!

Acidgirl (thank you) has pointed out that the alter ego at left is based on the robot from film director Fritz Lang's 1927 movie, Metropolis. This makes the image doubly significant for Inventor's Day. A true GIF image of the robot (with moving halos) is available here for viewing and downloading. Cool beans. I still wonder where the image originated. Did it appear on an old MTV Daria site? It is a very complicated image. The original movie robot can be seen in images here (thanks to Google).

Several stories have been attempted in the past to write up Daria as a robot. To my knowledge, none have been finished, which is a pity.

AWAKE AGAIN!

Just got home. Renown fan artist Milo Minderbinder has confessed that he is responsible for the marvelous fanwork of Daria as the Metropolis robot. I am not worthy! (See Comments.)

I've searched my records but can find only one Daria-as-robot fanfic (unfinished, but a kicker): D.A.R.I.A., by Greystar. I did not include that one in my favorites list only because I didn't think it would be completed, but if by chance it was, that would so totally R0K! Anyone know of any more Daria-bot tales? (Not Tiffany, Daria.)

Latest entry on DariaWiki: The Well (by Brother Grimace).