Li, the Great and Terrible

Pay no attention to the principal behind the curtain as we all wish Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum a happy birthday. Someone involved with the show must have been a fan, because in addition to the Daria's Inferno scene there, we also get Mr. O'Neill quoting the Cowardly Lion in "Fire!," Daria referencing Judy Garland's role in the movie at the start of "Legends of the Mall," and Mr. DeMartino's "and you were there" bit near the end of "Lucky Strike." I'm a little surprised that Daria and Jane didn't get blown away to Oz by the hurricane in "Daria!"

I suppose they couldn't bear to be separated from their loved ones, since today is also International Day of Families. While there are many families in Daria, I'm not sure any of them are ones that the U.N. would care to hold up as good examples.

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Pay No Attention to the Educator Behind the Curtain!

Ms. Li, as the Wizard of Oz, commands you all to wish a happy birthday to L. Frank Baum, who was born on this day in 1856. Baum, of course, created the Oz book series that was referenced in several Daria episodes. Ms. Li as the Wizard actually works quite well--lots of bluster and bluffing but little real competence when it comes down to it.

This is also International Day of Families, so celebrate by following the example of the well-adjusted Morgendorffers--er, I mean the Landons--okay, bad idea...the Lanes--oops, no, but how about the Taylors....

You know what? Forget it. I give up.

Fanfic Update!

• Consequences, by Zetor (part 1): "Daria sat leaning against the side of the storage shed on the school’s roof, staring up at the clouds with a relaxed smile that she would be mortified for anyone but the person beside her to see."


• Cynic and a Six-String, by fringeperson (part 13): "As soon as Daria opened the front door, she heard the strained tones of Helen talking to Rita on the phone, and winced. 'Damn,' Daria said, and promptly closed the door again."


• See Jane Date, by EntrancedCat (COMPLETE!): "Jane smoothed down the front of her blue mini skirt and gave her sleeveless red top a couple tugs not really trying to cover her bare tummy. She gathered her thick, raven hair up tight on her head and secured the mass with a wide golden scrunchie, all before smirking at herself in the mirror."


• Survival of the DoctorDonna, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (COMPLETE!): "They had left the alternate Darlig Ulv Stranden, and had returned to their home universe. 'I thought we could try the planet Felspoon,' Donna said. 'Just because. What a good name, Felspoon. Apparently, it's got mountains that sway in the breeze. Mountains that move. Can you imagine?'"

If Ever, If Ever a Wiz There Was

The famed author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum, was born this day 153 years ago. This story is referenced a number of times in official Daria materials. See if you can find the Oz references in "Legends of the Mall," "Fire!" "Lucky Strike," and the Daria's Inferno computer game (hint: see image at right). Fan artists (Adam Spradlin and Lisanne Bouchard) have created Oz-derived Daria art, and at least three crossovers with the Oz saga have been written, though curiously they are now hard to find (Ken T.'s "The Wizard of Ug," Aaron Adelman's "Daria in Oz," and Crazy Nutzo's “Through the Rainbow”). I haven't yet performed an extensive search for these, but perhaps someone out there knows where they appear.

Medea42 found something. (Shhh!)

FF.net

• Reality Is What We Make It, by Lord of Fluff (Part 1): The only sounds that invaded my sense of hearing as I worked furiously was the thunderclap of the soft storm that crashed down outside of the building I was in and the quick and precise clicking of computer keys as my hands swiftly raced across the keyboard. If this was going to work, I needed to get a move on.
• Wristcutters: A Daria Story, by Charliefox2012 (Parts 7 and 8): Daria entered her apartment, gave Erik his cottage cheese, grabbed the phone and headed into her room. The mess had been cleaned up. “Thank you, Erik!” Daria called. No answer, but she knew he heard. She dialed Eugene’s number hoping he was home.

PPMB

• Cold Comfort, by Doggieboy (the REAL part 1): Let's just say that it was a bad day for muggers. A very bad day.
  
• Spirit Stick, by Brother Grimace (Part 4): After walking into the commons area, Archangel frowned as he saw that Valkryie had not stepped in with him–more like we probably stepped into differing time zones, he thought, seeing the newspaper dated 17 October 1962. Or different time periods. Looks like a "Shattered" scenario. Shame Richard isn’t here. He could lecture me about how I have to make sure that I don’t do anything that’ll disrupt the natural flow of events.
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Lying About "The Kiss"), by Dennis (Part 1): The suspicious part of Jane’s mind whispered that Daria had frozen for a second, that something had been off about the conversation, but Jane again shoved it down, as they walked through the double doors into school. “See you after homeroom,” she said, and the two parted.