Walk Quietly--People are Trying to Sleep!

Daria is requesting that everyone keep it down for National Sleepy Head Day, which is technically a holiday in Finland but there's no reason the rest of us can't steal it. I mean, Trent practically invented it!

Today is also Take Your Houseplant for a Walk, Take Your Pants for a Walk Day, and Walk on Stilts Day, and I have to say that sounds like one bonkers walk. If you try all three, have fun but share photos!

Finally, today is the anniversary of the episode "Pierce Me," which aired on this day in 1998. Daria took her piercing for a walk; does that count?

Fanfic Update!

• Flash Forward, by Spikesnifty09 (part 1): "'I've got the popcorn!' Jane yelled from the kitchen."


• Her Last Words, by Sheila Wisz Ellayn (part 34): "The snowy mountains just to the Northwest of Layndale, often visible from the town and its vast forest when the weather was clear, were a truly beautiful and remarkable place."


• How Jodie Spent Her Summer Vacation, by Kristen Bealer (COMPLETE!): "Mystik Spiral made it clear that Jodie wasn’t welcome back in the band until she had 'made some serious lifestyle changes,' although Max had called her a true criminale and given her a thumb’s up as they left."


• The Naked Truth, by wilddogjj (part 1): "Kevin, Jim, Jamie and Chuck are on the porch having some beer and enjoying a warm June day. Kevin is also smoking a cigarette."


• Prom Night Ahoy, by GuidingKey1234 (COMPLETE!): "(Lawndale High Cafeteria. The Fashion Club are having lunch)"


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Daria The Youngest Barksdale), by NightGoblyn (part 5): "Daria dropped her bags off in the spare bedroom while Quinn stomped upstairs to her room and slammed the door."

Taking Economics to New Heights

Mrs. Bennett is trying out a new skill for Walk on Stilts Day, or maybe she's just trying to figure out a way to get (and keep) her students' attention in class. Those balloons might actually work, at least for Kevin and Brittany!

Today is also the anniversary of the episode "Pierce Me," which aired on this day in 1998. Not only did Daria/Trent shippers get a ton of new material to work with, but we also found out that Daria is an "innie"! Valuable information, indeed.

Fandom News!

• Talk about songs about technology that kids these days won't know about.


• Discuss the recent deaths of Peter Green, Regis Philbin, and Olivia de Haviland.

"Don't call him a cowboy until you see him ride."

Just because it's National Day of the Cowboy doesn't mean you're obligated to give Travis the Annoying Cowboy a ride anywhere. Just drive away, with or without running over his suitcase. Trust me; you're better off without that kind of hassle in your life.

Today is also the anniversary of the episode "Pierce Me," which aired on this day in 1998. It was one of the more shippery episodes, but don't be distracted by the cute Daria/Trent moments. The real focus of the episode should be on how Daria's belly button healed so quickly. My money's on E.T.

Fanfic Update!

• Changing Lanes, by midnightabyss86 (part 21): "The summer passed. After each midday peak, the thick heat, once intense and oppressive in its power, mellowed, and the passions between lovers and friends cooled each night."


• Chan's Crucible (Life After Thirty), by WildDogJJ (part 1): "Kevin, Jim, Mack and Chuck are sitting on the porch drinking beer and watching the sunset. 'So,' said Jim, 'Who do you guys like for the Superbowl this year?'"


• Daria Ravenclaw: The Highland Years, by Meester_Lee (parts 76 and 77): "School started the week after Daria and Quinn returned from the camp-out. Not that there were any ruffles and flourishes for the first day of school: there hadn't been any while Principal Strong had run James Ferguson Elementary School, and Principal Trimble chose not to have any, unless his insipid speech at a mandatory school assembly was supposed to be such." (Part 77)


• Erin Chambers, by OzFerret (part 27): "Erin sat in her usual Monday morning seat on her usual Monday morning train, drinking her usual Monday morning coffee, yet everything felt different."


• No Use Playing Dumb, by MorganAW (parts 1 and 2): "*Knock knock* 'Come in,' Daria said without looking up from the pages of Anna Karenena." (Part 2)

See Any Fuzzy Wuzzy Wee Bits Up There?

Mrs. Bennett has Walk on Stilts Day covered, unless they finally cut Ms. Li's budget and this is now her only low-tech surveillance option. Either way, she seems to be having fun.

Today is also Take Your Pants for a Walk Day, and given Mr. DeMartino's ability to hem pants and love of hiking, there's a good chance he's participating.

Finally, this is the anniversary of the episode "Pierce Me," which aired on this day in 1998. It didn't feature people on stilts or walking pants, but it did give the Daria/Trent shippers a little more fuel.

Fanfic Update!

• Doing What You Love (Scenes No Daria fanfic should have: 600 Years Afterward.....), by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): "It's good to be able to do what you love, and get paid for it..."


• Drake And Jane Diaries, by James the Lesser (part 1): "A New kid started class today. He made me chuckle a bit when he made Mr. D's eye bulge with the right answer. And hey, surprise surprise, he's in my self esteem class. Drake something or other."


• I Can't Make You Love Me, by elainefr (COMPLETE!): "The young man stood center stage holding the microphone. His dark hair fell slightly over his right eye as he did a scan of the crowd. It didn't really matter who was out there; he only sang for one person and she was.......with someone."


• Leaving Hope Behind (World's Medium-Sized Crossover), by Meester_Lee (parts 1 - 3): "Early in the morning somewhere out in west Texas, a group of students were getting ready to board a school bus to go on a field trip The students were all dressed identically." (Part 2) (Part 3)


• Rude Awakening #14: And she was gone...., by DIsaac (part 1): "JANE: I got the pizza and booze! DARIA (Not looking up and adjusting the angle of the tv for better viewing): Do you remember this BEFORE we added booze to the mix? How did we cope?"


• Those Tired Old Cliches, by Charles RB (COMPLETE!): "In the bar of Sydney's FantastiCon, a man and woman – one white, one Asian, one Melbourne, one Brisbane, one in a SILHOUET T-shirt and so was the other one – studied, respectively, a press release and their drink."


• Unnamed story (Daria and Mack Fanfics), by Sureia (COMPLETE!): "Ignoring the screaming children demanding ice cream, Mack ended the call and swore under his breath, glaring at nothing even as he gripped the phone tighter. It was all about the parents with her, wasn't it?"


• Unnamed story (LLH - Short Entries), by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): "'Hello, Michael...' Cadet Michael Fulton glanced up from the oblong, two-foot long stone on a table before him, the electric-blue in his eyes fading as he saw Leda Calavicci on the other side of the table."


• Unnamed story (LLH - Short Entries), by Brother Grimace (parts 1 and 2): "'Charles said that you wanted to see me, Colonel?' 'Have a seat, Mackenzie.' Oh, hell. This is like getting called into the Coach's office - or even worse, Li's office." (Part 2)


• Unnamed story (LLH - Short Entries), by Roentgen (parts 30 and 31): "The armored figure entered her tiny moment of The Now, the period where everything exists all at once, where life draws its power and where the Unmentionable is converted into the Actual." (Part 31)


• Unnamed story (Scenes No Daria fanfic should have: 600 Years Afterward.....), by Sureia (COMPLETE!): "'Come on, Mack; it's not that bad.' Mack looked at Jodie, wondering how best to explain to his... Actually, he wasn't quite sure what they were any more."


• White Girl Wasted (Daria and the Gang Thread II), by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): "(The Fashion Club are all at Quinn's house. Daria is over at Jane's and the parents are out. There are all sorts of dresses, boxes, shoes, accessories stacked on the bed."

Walking Tall

Mrs. Bennett is having a great time on Walk on Stilts Day, or at least I hope she's on stilts. Maybe those Fuzzy Wuzzy Wee Bits actually contain dangerous levels of human growth hormone. Still, have a good one...and try not to fall off!

Today we also celebrate the anniversary of the episode "Pierce Me," which aired on this day in 1998. Daria did something stupid for a guy, and then demonstrated superhuman healing abilities. But did she ever get that tattoo Trent suggested?

Fandom News!

• If you could have anything you wanted, what would it be? Tell everyone about your wishes and fantasies.


• Do you think Daria is pretty? Share your reasons why or why not in the thread.


• How do you feel about Daria shipping and what, if any, relationships do you favor?


• Roentgen posted a new Iron Chef in Creative Writing: Brittany's World Trip.


• Aloysius has a request for various Scarlett drawings in the Easel.


• Kem wonders about what characters you hate....to draw as a fan artist.

"You give birth to someone, you just get an urge to keep tabs on them."

Because today is National Parents' Day, I thought it would be appropriate to show a rare moment of good parenting from Helen and Jake. Of course, it seems they got their act together just in time for the series to end, but what are you going to do? At least they got there before Daria left for college.

This is also the fifteenth anniversary of the episode "Pierce Me," which aired on this day in 1998. Daria did something stupid for a guy, and I think we're all waiting for that Daria/E.T. shipper fic to materialize.

Fandom News!

• What is a hipster anyway? SacredDust wants to know.


• Post your theories about each Daria character's popularity in a new discussion.


• Check out College Humor's fake live-action movie preview: "Daria - High School Reunion" and give your opinion.


• Have Region Two Daria DVDs become a reality? Follow the investigation as it develops!


• Discuss Star Wars, Robotech, and Macross in the Weapons of Mass Distraction forum.


• LSauchelli posted a new Iron Chef in Creative Writing: My Dad, the director.

A Very Strange Birthday Present for Jane

"Pierce Me" turns 12 today, it being that many years since the popular Daria episode premiered on MTV. A previous post here lionized the episode and some of the good things in it, so I'll leave it at that. Break out your DVDs and enjoy the ep. That look of romantic longing on Daria's face when she's staring up at Trent... wow. That WTF? look on Jane's face when she first sees Daria's piercing... priceless.

Today is National Sleepy Head Day, plus being a critical date in a Daria fanfic and the birthday of the woman who sang Jane Lane's favorite song of all time. The immortal Bugs Bunny turns 70 today, too.

"Little Shop of Horrors" opened off-Broadway in NYC 28 years ago today. The play is crossed over only once in all Daria fanfiction, but it was a very fine job indeed.

NO0OZ!

• Breitasparrow has unleashed two mind-blowing crossover artworks using Daria characters and 1960s modern-fantasy TV sitcoms. Go, thou, and be amazed!

PPMB

• Bedside Consultation II, by Chris Tucker (COMPLETE!): "So, Daria, how does it feel to be going home?" "Words do not exist!" "Hah! Yeah, I bet. Your father will be here in about an hour, traffic willing. We're going to miss you, but we're damned happy to see you leave." "Yeah, about that. I... this isn't easy for me. Look, I want to apologize for all the grief I caused you and everyone else." "Oh, and what 'grief' might this be, then?" "Come on! You know. The tantrums, the swearing, the cursing, God, the throwing stuff around."
• A Clockwork Sandi, by rglovejoy (COMPLETE!): Sandi Griffin sat with her droogs at their usual place at the Korova Milk Bar. Each of them held a non-fat Soy milk, laced with Vellocet, to sharpen them all up for some of the old ultraviolence.... (Daria/A Clockwork Orange)
• Daria/Dorian 5: Mountain of Truth, by LadieT (Part 6): Jane opened her eyes in shock when she felt Dorian's lips press against hers. She started to resist, then began to return the kiss in full. After their lips broke apart, her blue eyes fixed on his face. Jane's breath began to fog up Dorian's glasses. She lifted them off of his face as their lips met again. After the second kiss, Dorian said four words that made time stand still. "I love you too."
  
• Finn Morgendorffer 54: On the Outside of Love, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 4): Stacy knocked on Finn’s door and was very grateful to see him at home. “Hey!” Finn cheered, and gave Stacy a firm hug. “Finn! Hello!” Stacy responded with her cheer. Anything to stall the bad news for just a few moments. She did not relish what it was she was about to do, but Finn had to know.
• Judith Strikes! Symbiosis, by Silver (COMPLETE!): No alarms. Barely any noise. Judith hit the ground as softly as she could manage. “No guards. Given the way this world works, they're probably stoned off their asses.” She straightened, brushing her crimson cloak off in an almost vain gesture. She smirked, remembering the looks of its creators before she'd taken it. And, for that matter, taken their lives. She forced her mind back to the task at hand. Her eyes fell on the book, one of several in the museum's exhibit. A book, salvaged from the ruins of Miskatonic University's prestigious Orne Library.

• Kolchak: The Lawndale File, by Chris Tucker (COMPLETE!): "You've been reassigned by the head office. You're going to Maryland. Some podunk suburb." Tony looked through the mess of papers on his desk like a bloodhound after a baloney sandwich. Which reminds me, I haven't had lunch yet. "Ah! Here it is. Lawndale, Maryland. A little town where nothing ever happens. The head office is sending you to Siberia, Kolchak. No more of your damn fool monster of the week stories. They're fed up with your little fantasies." (Daria/Kolchak: The Night Stalker)
• The Lanes Get to Do Some Cussing, or, Writer's Block Comix, by Gwrtheyrn (Part 1): "I have a collect call for Jane from the Spiral, in Walla Walla, Washington; will you accept charges?" "Yes," she agreed, instantly. "Janey, I need you to wire us five hundred bucks." Of course, it was her beloved brother, Trent. He sounded haggard, exhausted. "WHAT? Where am I going to lay hands on that kind of money? I thought you guys were doing well on this trip!"
  
• Raft College: The First Year, by rglovejoy (Part 19): Jane put her arms out to embrace her friend. "I can't wait to get back here, Daria. It's lonely down there in Lawndale without you. There's hardly anyone to talk to, except Trent." Daria felt very warm. "Jane, we're sisters, right?" Jane released her. "Not biologically, but yeah, I guess we are. I'm not all that close to Penny or Summer, so you're the nearest I have to a sister." Daria reached around to the back of her neck. A moment later, she held a thin gold chain with a crystal pendant in her hand.
  
• School Days, by Chris Tucker (COMPLETE!): Dear Mac: Gained two more pounds, up to 88 pounds. Putting on muscle, especially in the legs. If I have any reason whatsoever to be grateful for being sick, it's that now I never ever have to do that stupid rope climbing thing in gym class! So while my comrades in humiliation struggle skywards, I am condemned to briskly trot around the perimeter of the gymnasium. Oh, the humiliation, the shame, the time to think while I enjoy a pleasant solitary stroll, my thoughts interrupted only by the sound of the occasional body falling onto the safety mats.
• Unnamed story (Three Edged Sword), by Kristen Bealer (COMPLETE!): What do you think they're working on in Tom's room right now?
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: In Celebration of Stanley Kubrick), by Brian Taylor (COMPLETE!): "GENTLEmen! COCK your PISTOLS!" Daria's father... "GENTLEmen! AIM your PISTOLS!" ...had been bred, like many other young sons of working-class families, to the military arts. (Daria/Barry Lyndon)
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: In Celebration of Stanley Kubrick), by rglovejoy (COMPLETE!): Quinn dropped off her books on the kitchen counter and went to the refrigerator to get a diet soda. "Hey Daria, you know we've got a substitute English teacher this week. He says he's a novelist, his name is Mr. Humbert...." (Daria/Lolita)
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: In Celebration of Stanley Kubrick), by Charles RB (COMPLETE!): Daria pressed her eye to the door's keyhole - she could see one young man, dressed in an odd white suit, looking distressed. "Help, miss! Please open up, there's been a terrible accident!" (Daria/A Clockwork Orange)
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: In Celebration of Stanley Kubrick), by Minx (COMPLETE!): Daria Morgendorffer sat in the room. As she came to, Daria became immediately became aware of two things; the rancid smell of stale vomit that infiltrated her nostrils, and the faint burning sensation in her wrists and ankles. She made a vain attempt to move her heavy head, but quickly came to the realization that she was trapped. Her head was held in place against the tall back of a hard wooden chair by two leather straps that ran the girth of her forehead and chin; likewise she found that her hands and feet had been shackled in a similar fashion. She pulled hard at her restraints and writhed in pain, as the burning in her limbs intensified. (Daria/A Clockwork Orange)
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: In Celebration of Stanley Kubrick), by rglovejoy (COMPLETE!): "What's YOUR name, scumbag?" "Uh, Kevin Thompson, sir!" (Daria/Full Metal Jacket)
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: In Celebration of Stanley Kubrick), by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): CHOP! (Daria/The Shining)
  

Caption Contest!

What is Trent saying?

(Thanks to UU for the image!)

Caption Contest! (One More Time!)

...and Daria said...

Ouch!

Eleven years ago today, "Pierce Me" was shown on MTV for the first time.

At Holiday Island High, the exchange student from Finland known as National Sleepy Head Day celebrates a birthday, or will once he wakes up.

Award-winning singer Maureen McGovern is 60 today. She sang the theme song from the 1972 movie, The Poseidon Adventure ("The Morning After"), which we learn in "Sappy Anniversary" is Jane Lane's favorite song.

The sign-up sheet for buying Daria on DVD is already up at Amazon.com. I believe it's been up for a long time, but it finally has real meaning. If you haven't signed up before now, get to it.

LiveJournal has an interesting post on the top 10 coolest cartoon characters of all time. Daria comes in at #10.

Entertainment Weekly (online) has a Quote of the Day: Daria Edition for your pleasure.

Cartoon Caption Contest time!

What's the best caption for this image? Add your suggestion to Comments, below.

The Belly-Button Show!

"Pierce Me" was a great episode. We learn that Daria is book smart but will do anything to get her man, even have her belly button pierced because her man thought it would look "hot." Why was her kiss with Tom Sloane such a surprise?

Let's look at the highlights.

1. When is Jane Lane's birthday? I WANNA KNOW, DAMN IT!
   
2. Why does Quinn call Daria a "pain wimp"? Does Quinn have secret powers of mind to overcome pain? Apparently so. Could she be a superhero?
   
3. The phone call from Trent is hysterical, one of the great extended comic scenes of all time. I adore it.
   
4. Daria has the worst romantic fantasies I've ever heard of. Bad for her, I mean, but great for the rest of us. ("Silly, Little Self-Deluded Girl. Why Would a Cool Guy Like Me Ever Write a Song About You?") No self-confidence at all where romance is concerned.
5. Jake's advice to Trent, thinking he was Quinn's date: too funny! ("Gee, I'm sorry, young man, but you know how girls can be. Just give her some time, son. Give her some time.")
6. "Mystik Spiral, but we're thinking of changing the name." First time Trent says that?
7. "Anything for Jane." A great story title. Too bad Daria didn't really mean it.
8. "Quinn, I need my coffee." Helen, the caffeine freak. I love it.
9. "And I can't set foot in a bookstore. Don't ask me why, Daria. I just don't want to talk about it." This line from Trent spawned several fanfics (click here: 1, 2, 3).
10. What if Daria did buy and wear that retro outfit later, the one she wears in her alter ego (see image)? What if she got it to look hot for Trent? What if she caught someone else instead? What would her life be like if she decided to dress like that all the time?
    
11. "That's not 'uvula.'" Another winning line! What if instead of her navel Daria had—um, forget it. One AU I'm not going to visit.
    
12. "Daria, it would look really hot." Someone wrote a fanfic in which Trent's use of this line leads Daria into a life of complete sexual degradation. That was awesome! Where is that fic?
13. Monique's a nice girl. Too bad early 'shippers made her such an evil person when she's sweet. Still wonder about the Harpies. So much fanfic potential.
    
14. Eric is buying his niece a dress? Cool. Jasmine already knows he's a sucker, so she's going to soak him. I used her in a fanfic as a friend of Veronica in an AU.
    
15. "Oh my God, what have I done?" Both Daria and Helen say this line. Nice touch.
16. Enter the Talking Toilet. Big fun. And it turned into an award, too!
    
17. "Boy, Daria, you have the weirdest sex dreams." Another winner!
18. Tiffany's rental "mom." You gotta wonder about that.
19. Would the world have been any different if Quinn and Helen had won the catwalk? No. Same old Helen-Linda rivalry. The archery thing in "Fair Enough" was cool, though.
    
20. "Little sister, little sister, you came into my life like a twister. What can I get you that you haven't taken?" Implies that Jane takes whatever she wants around the house. Figures.
21. The whole bit with Quinn at the end, totally great, comedy at its best AGAIN! ("She was pierced! Pierced, I tell you! Oh, the humanity!")

Good job, MTV people! Good job.

LATE ADD: Richard Lobinske did a nice AU of this episode: "Ring of Champions."

ANOTHER LATE ADD: WacoKid was the one responsible for the great ficlet jumping off from #12. His ficlet is in this thread on PPMB, on page 2, entry for June 29, 2005. WacoKid, you rule.

Jane's Birthday Is...

. . . unknown. We actually don't know Jane's birthday date, but the episode about it was aired on MTV ten years ago today: "Pierce Me." Lots of shippery goodness for everyone, and Daria's belly button gets a temporary ornament.

Today's date was mentioned in a fanfic, it being when Daria saw Mack fly off to the moon. Not what she had expected to see as she walked home that night.

More soon.