Somehow I Doubt Mystik Spiral Plays This One

Jake seems to be rethinking his decision to celebrate National Dive Bar Day, but at least he's getting out and making friends. I gotta say, a small town like Lawndale having not one, not two, but three dive bars (this one plus the Zon and McGrundy's) seems a little odd. What the heck is going on there?

I think Jake would have been better off celebrating World Chocolate Day instead, or at least he would if he could wrestle any of it away from Mrs. Johannsen. She's not one to tangle with; just ask Mr. DeMartino.

Both the episodes "Road Worrier" and "It Happened One Nut" first aired on this day in 1997 and 1999. There were no dive bars or chocolate in either, but we did see a greasy spoon in the first and peanuts hijacked Trent's brain in the second. "You've hijacked my brain, moth to a flame, if you don't release me it'll really be lame."

Eh. Still needs work.

Fanfic Update!

• Boston Sunset, by Yuuuutong (COMPLETE!): "The luckiest thing in Daria and Jane’s life maybe, after graduating from the senior high school, they went to Boston together."


• But You're a Cheerleader, by Bolshevitch (part 2): "It’s 6am and cold. Biting cold. Like God left his freezer open the whole night. Somehow your high school’s bus lot is never very thermally efficient."


• Daria Enrolls At Nevermore: An Experiment, by Meester_Lee (part 18): "After bringing up their luggage, Helen had an idea. 'Let’s take your bike,' she said. 'I assume that you want me to drive,' said Sirius."


• Her Last Words, by Sheila Wisz Ellayn (part 88): "All of Layndale and the nearby mountains endured three days of storm with heavy snow and lashing winds, and even though daylight had almost disappeared and the temperature had dropped to alarming levels, soon the storm passed as it followed a path to the North and everything began to slowly warm up."


• Telephone, by Bolshevitch (COMPLETE!): "'Picture this, Daria,' Jane leans beside her friend’s locker, watching her take out an armful of textbooks for English next period, 'me, you, and Kannibal Killers 4: the Re-Kannibalizing on VHS.'"

There's "Dive" and Then There's "Plummet"

Jake is obviously having second thoughts about celebrating National Dive Bar Day, but as long as the place serves martinis I'm sure he'll be fine. Mystik Spiral can take their pick of the Zon and McGrundy's, because it's a toss-up which of the two is the bigger dive.

Speaking of the band's questionable choices, today is also the anniversary of the episode "Road Worrier," which aired on this day in 1997. While the group didn't actually visit any dive bars, that diner probably wasn't a whole lot better.

Fanfic Update!

• The Daria Witch Project, by vixens (part 2): "It was the 31st of August, one day left until their house imprisonment ended."

Nuts and Chocolate, Better Together!

I think Mrs. Johannsen's chocolate obsession has finally gone too far, even on Chocolate Day. I mean, all of fandom knows that I have no room to judge, but even I know that it's better to eat the chocolate than to be the chocolate.

Today is also the anniversary of the episodes "Road Worrier" in 1997 and "It Happened One Nut" in 1999. Both were quite nutty, in that Daria sat on a peanut butter sandwich in the former and sold nuts in the latter. Good news for nut fans, but bad news for Quinn and her pistachio dye allergy.

Fandom News!

• Share your thoughts on Kanye West announcing a presidential run.


• Discuss the deaths of Ennio Morricone and Charlie Daniels.

Chocolate and Nuts? What a Great Combination!

Anyone care for a chocolate-covered Mrs. Johannsen for Chocolate Day? I'll pass, but only because I have plenty of chocolate stashed away already. You have fun, though!

Today is also the anniversary of both "Road Worrier" in 1997 and "It Happened One Nut" in 1999. Daria sat on a peanut butter sandwich in one and dispensed nuts in the other. Someone working on the show was just nuts about nuts!

Fanfic Update!

• Am I A Grownup Yet?, by jones2000 (part 19): "'We're going to the Hamptons.' 'We're doing what now?'"


• Daria: A Post-Electric Play, by Roentgen (part 1): "'I'm sitting here in a railray station got a ticket for my destination...hmmm hmmm....' Poe finished sweeping the floor. Or at least she thought she had finished sweeping it. All it took was one little wind from somewhere to bring the dust right back into this run-down shack somewhere along the Mississippi."


• Getting By, by EntrancedCat (part 11): "Kevin's mouth gaped on empty air as Tiffany broke their kiss by dropping down from tip-toes. 'What is it, babe?' Kevin asked as Tiffany turned her face from his. 'Is my Honest Abe costume beard tickling you, dollface?'"


• Timmy The Model (Life After Thirty), by WildDogJJ (COMPLETE!): "It's late August so Quinn and Jim are at the mall with Tommy, Timmy and Teddy to do what all parents do in the waning days of summer: shop for back-to-school clothes. They are currently in the pre-teen section of Cashmans. Jim is loaded down with the latest styles for school age boys." (Part 2) (Part 3)


• Truth or Dare (Scenes No Daria fanfic should have: The Saga Goes On), by Shiva (part 1): "Inexplicably Daria and Jane found themselves playing Truth or Dare during a sleepover at Jane's place. The reasons for all of this are inexplicable and have no baring on canon beyond what you are willing to believe."

I Want a Damn Chocolate Bar, Too!

Mrs. Johanssen has gotten just a little too into the spirit of World Chocolate Day, but then again I think that's how she'd have wanted to go. I'm sure Daria and Tom will eat a few boxes of Quinn's chocolates in honor of the holiday, and given the opportunity I just might consider indulging myself.

Today is also a double anniversary for the episodes "Road Worrier" and "It Happened One Nut," which aired on this day in 1997 and 1999. Both episodes include an unusually high number of humiliations for Daria in front of Trent, as well as a slightly significant role for rodents--pervert squirrels in one, and escaped gerbils in the other.

Fanfic Update!

• Daria Ravenclaw: The Highland Years, by Meester_Lee (part 18b): "The teachers and children left the small auditorium and went into the first exhibit, the Permian Reef Exhibit."


• Dylan, by J-D (part 36a): "'Thank you! Thank you! Oh, thank you!' Dylan was even more disturbed than he was surprised by what seemed to be an effusive rush of gratitude from Millie."


• Of Inhuman Bonding, by Kristen Bealer (COMPLETE!): "'Wow, Helen! It's beautiful up here!' Jake said, staring in awe at the view. Helen, meanwhile, had noticed that they were directly on course to crash into a tree."


• Shadows of a Timeless Song, by Dennis (part 14): "If Daria thought she and Hermione had reached some sort of rapprochement, the train ride back to Angelsey disabused her."


• Unnamed story (LLH - Short Entries), by Roentgen (parts 25 and 26): "'Funny,' Karen said, 'I thought these uniforms were a lot thinner. At least, they look thin on TV.' Karen shifted her weight back and forth. Even though she had filled out in the right places since she had started training, she was still slightly self-conscious about her body." (Part 26)

Now She IS a Damn Chocolate Bar!

It turns out you really are what you eat, as Mrs. Johanssen demonstrates today, which happens to be Chocolate Day. It also happens to be one of my all-time favorite holidays.

This is also a double anniversary for episodes, as both "Road Worrier" and "It Happened One Nut" aired on this day in 1997 and 1999. Interestingly, both episodes feature Daria's unpleasant interactions with nuts. In the first, she sits on a peanut butter sandwich. In the second, she has to sell nuts while--ugh--smiling.

Fandom News!

• Tell everyone about Halloween costumes you've worn in the past.


• candy_darling has started a petition to get MTV to put Daria's original music back on the DVDs.


• Princess_Pasta shares her Daria impression in a short video.


• Minecraft fans can discuss the game in a new Weapons of Mass Distraction thread.


• tafka posted a new Iron Chef in Creative Writing: How Nice?

Mmmm...Random Holidays....

Great news, everybody! It's Chocolate Day! I don't think I need to tell you how to celebrate this one, so go crazy. And remember to share!

In non-chocolate-related news, this is also the anniversary of both "Road Worrier" in 1997 and "It Happened One Nut" in 1999. Fortunately, both episodes feature peanuts, and peanuts go well with chocolate. Everyone wins!

Fandom News!

• Please clear your unwanted attachments to make space on the PPMB.


• Share your favorite pop-rock tunes from the 80s.


• acidcooch88 is looking for a Ranger Thorne fanfic.


• Check out the new Daria cosplay thread in The Easel.

"I don't need a damn doctor; I need a damn chocolate bar!"

It's Chocolate Day! If you need me to tell you how to celebrate this one, then there's just no hope for you. Besides, I'm about to start my own observance of the holiday myself.

First, though, I should mention that today is also the anniversary of both "Road Worrier" in 1997 and "It Happened One Nut" in 1999. Both featured peanut products of some kind--the peanut butter sandwich Daria sat on in the former, and Trent's all-consuming craving for peanuts in the latter. I would also like to point out that peanuts go very well with chocolate.

Fandom News!

• List your ideas on topics that drive people crazy.


• Can you explain the discovery of the Higgs boson to a seven year old? Heck, can anyone explain it to this twenty-something blogger?


• Discuss Daria in "Quinn the Brain," and whether or not it's an example of Daria's hotness.


• Are Tom and Jane together again? Check the link in the thread to find out.


• Talk about--or just shudder at--the latest UK reality show "Geordie Shore."


• Two new Iron Chefs have been posted in Creative Writing: Ms. Kinnikufan's Helen Morgendoffer, M.D. and thatLONERchick's Termination Fail.

Of Music Festivals and Nuts

It's a double episode anniversary today: both "Road Worrier" and "It Happened One Nut" aired on this day in 1997 and 1999, respectively. Two of my all-time favorite lines from Daria came from each of those episodes. The first is "You have to pee, Daria? You can pee behind those trees. See those trees? You can pee behind there!" and the second is "Hey, look! Monster trucks and naked models! Naked, naked, naked!"

Both lines, I've found, are extremely versatile and can be quoted in a wide range of situations.

Anyone have a particular favorite line from either episode? Quote it in the comments while I post the latest fanfic!

• Another Lawndale's Episode, by Silver (part 2): "Things have a bad habit of getting weird when you're not looking. It's sort of like when you sign up for a lit course, and the teacher shows you an episode of South Park instead of going over the reading. That was a fairly accurate descriptor of Daria's morning. Except about a thousand times weirder. After all, mecha do not typically park themselves in front of a sane school on a sane Earth."


• Blood of Doves (Scenes no Daria fanfic should have: It's Friday!!), by thatLONERchick (parts 2 and 3): "In perfect sync, the duo eased silently through the shop, checking every shadow for The Employer's men as well as Stacy's friends. The only sound was their shallow breathing as the pair traversed the rows of the seemingly-abandoned art store, and the occasional splat of a drop of sweat hitting the floor. Finally they reached the storeroom door, and Stacy rolled her eyes. Her shoulders sagged visibly, the only clue to her immense relief. It, unfortunately, would be short-lived." (Part 3)


• A Cookie Story (Non-Daria), by Doggieboy (COMPLETE!): "Inside the wrapper was a single chocolate chip cookie. And definitely not the Nabisco/Keebler 'excuses' for a cookie, either. This cookie was large and had at least thirty chocolate chips. This wasn't something to be munched on at the mall, or absently ate while behind the wheel. No, this was something to lose yourself into, to savor its moistness and its chocolate goodness."


• Daria and the 'Rangers' (Scenes no Daria fanfic should have: It's Friday!!), by Smijey (COMPLETE!): "Daria stalked alone through the streets of Angel Grove. Ever since the sudden move to the new city without Jane, she had been bereft of companionship and, to her dismay, sank into depression. Sure, the town was a nice place to live -- after all, giant monsters regularly demolished it. But with Jane around, it just wasn't the same thing. Suddenly, and peculiarly, she saw a star fall from the sky. She had to rub her eyes to confirm there wasn't just an unusually-shaped piece of debris in them."


• Daria is Raven's Apprentice, by project pegasus: "Raven: Daria, if things don't turn out well, I just want you to know that I'm sorry. Daria: Hey, this isn't all your fault. Raven: (smiling) Really? Daria: Yeah, we were dumb enough to follow you into this death trap, so in a way this is our faults too."


• Daria, or the Confession of a Single Lonely Male, by Arena del Sur: "My heart is feeding with the constant roar of the engine, exerting for turn four wheels without regret. In the hours of rural sacrifice they are seeing us, like an unattainable dream getting lost, getting lost. In the constant taking and bringing my pajarillo verde, adrift, driving the Accord I'm in full shining, living this dream."


• Daria/Power Rangers: Watching the Watchmen, by Charles RB (parts 1 - 3): "Daria found herself making sarcastic remarks and Quinn-baiting comments on auto-pilot as she tried to figure out a way for all the facts and rumours to make sense. The rest of the family decided it must be a hoax designed to terrorise them – “It's that dastard Saddam, he's fighting dirty this time!” cried her dad – but she could tell her parents wanted to believe it was a hoax rather than actually believed it. It was all confusion and conjuncture until the next day. That was the day a walking skeleton invaded an amusement park on live TV and the Power Rangers stopped him." (Part 2) (Part 3)


• Daria the Hoosier, by Doggieboy (part 7): "The woman sat down in a nearby rocking chair and leaned forward slightly. 'You can talk to me, Daria,' she said. 'I may be an adult, but I can listen well and not be judgmental. After all, I do remember what it's like being a teenager.' She waited a few seconds, then added, 'I know that you and Jim are friends, but I also understand that there are some things girls just can't talk to guys about.' She smiled. 'Besides, it's better to get it out of your system.'"


• Daria's Big Hit (Scenes no Daria fanfic should have: It's Friday!!), by DIsaac (part 2): "Daria's Blog, The Hollywood Cynic is required reading for lovers of gossip and all thing of pop culture. So her job don't suck too much. It could have been worst - she could have been a teacher."


• Emerald Twilight, by Erin M. (parts 1 - 3): "A cruel smile crossed Rita's face. It was a small smile, but it was infinitely more terrifying than the cackling laugh which usually heralded her good moods. 'I'm more than all right, Fenster. In fact, I feel better than I have in years.' Rita swept an arm around the observation deck. 'I awoke with a moment of clarity, dear Fenster. I felt like my old self again. Like I did before that sanctomonious severed head imprisoned me. And finally, FINALLY, I was able to think clearly about our continued problem with the Power Rangers.'" (Part 2) (Part 3)


• The Enemy (Scenes no Daria fanfic should have: It's Friday!!), by thatLONERchick (COMPLETE!): "Daria and Jane were walking along, being sarcastic and whatnot as always. Suddenly, Jane turned her head as they were passing a park and saw a lone chicken standing by the monkey bars. It narrowed its blank eyes at the artist and seemed to sneer. 'Wait a minute,' Jane said, snarling. 'I know that chicken!'"


• Five Minutes to Midnight - 11:55, by untra (parts 12 - 16): "'Um, I... I believe I, uh...' My heart began to race, and the walls began to shake a little. The fluorescent bulbs above seemed brighter all of a sudden, and I continued to stammer mindlessly. Jane reached her hand out and placed it on my shoulder. 'Close your eyes and say what you feel,' Jane whispered." (Part 13) (Part 14) (Part 15) (Part 16)


• Green Dragon Rising, by Grifter74 (parts 1 - 3): "Grasping her anger like it was a physical object, Daria adjusted her bag and started to head to her new house. As Daria made her way down the stairs, she was bumped into and stumbled down the last few steps. She saw a flash of green cloth, felt a steading hand, and heard a mumbled apology. Glad to have a subject to unleash her anger on, she turned toward her victim, when a cry of 'Amiga' distracted her as she was pulled into a hug." (Part 2) (Part 3)


• Homeless Daria Episode 3: A College Try Gives Me Blisters, by RX-87 (parts 5 - 8): "'Hey, Jane?' Daria said, meekly. 'Yeah?' 'I really am sorry about the other day.' 'It's nothing, don't worry about it. It's cool if you want to have more friends than just me. That'd be pretty creepy, me wanting to keep you all to myself.' Jane laughed." (Part 6) (Part 7) (Part 8)


• Jane Morgendorffer 2: The Middle School Years, by LadieT (part 3): "One afternoon in early October, Penny took a chance and invited Daria and Trent to spend the night. Much to everyone's surprise, Daria and Trent said yes. That Friday, after school let out, Penny picked up Daria and Trent and brought them back to their place. Daria still refused to go into her old room, so Penny decided they would crash on the living room couches after watching a couple of movies."


• Legion of Lawndale Heroes Mini: Cats Night Out, by RLobinske (part 2): "Even over the din of the party, Stacy's sensitive ears picked up the sound of purring and she quietly moved away from the party to seek out the sound. 'I'm so jealous of Daria finding those cute kittens,' she said to her self while listening, and also using her heightened smell to locate the cats. 'Oh,' Stacy said, surprised to see Fran almost asleep between the felines. 'That's where you got off to.' Fran said, 'Hi, Stacy. I'm still not comfortable around crowds, but I found a couple of friends to keep me company.'"


• Not So Different 58: 'Takes A Licking ...', by J-D (COMPLETE!): "The trouble was that although Sonny wasn't talking about the story to Jane or to Tom, he couldn't stick to a resolution never to refer to it again. He found himself raising the subject of his writing ability with his father. Luckily it only set the man off on a rant about the lack of qualification of teachers for judging such things, the specific he had in mind emerging as a teacher at his military school who hadn't liked a song Cadet Morgendorffer had written for a school musical. Sonny abandoned his father mid-rant. He would be better off letting Tom read the story."


• Not So Different 59: Stretching Limits, by J-D (COMPLETE!): "Enjoyable though it was seeing Li squirm, Sonny did feel slight misgivings of his own at becoming a strikebreaker. He quelled them with the reflection that it wouldn't take much experience of his presence in the faculty lounge to make the principal desperate to settle with the union on any terms. Besides, he had to think about the effect on Quinn."


• Not So Different 60: False Impressions, by J-D (COMPLETE!): "Sonny held up a hand to check her. 'Does Quinn look really bad in this picture?' 'Well—um—I guess so—I mean, I don't know—Quinn said it made her face look like one big freckle and—' Sonny held up his hand again. 'Your secret and your picture are safe from me. On condition I get the chance to look at it some time.' Stacy nodded breathlessly."


• Not So Different 61: Rivals For Attention, by J-D (COMPLETE!): "'Mom, now that Quinn ... says she's got a steady boyfriend, are you going to invite him to dinner as well? You know, to encourage her? You did tell her that once she had a steady boyfriend you'd love to invite him for dinner, and that's when she got one. And with her history she probably needs the encouragement.' 'You want to encourage your sister and her new steady boyfriend? That's what you want? Out of pure altruism?' Sonny looked at his mother. 'You're not going to believe that, are you.'"


• PIGS in Space (Plot Bunny Murder), by Roentgen: "'It must be some really crappy holiday,' Daria said. 'Listen. What kind of - ?' 'I'm not a bloody holiday,' the young man said. 'I'm England!' 'England?' Daria said. 'The entire country? That's not even possible.' 'Why not? You accepted Cupid and St. Patrick's Day, why not a country?'"


• Rita's Revenge (Scenes That Should Be: Breakfast of Zombie Champions), by OverlordMikey (COMPLETE!): "Rita's eye twitched and her teeth clenched. “Sure Brian, but aren't you forgetting something?” He looked at for a moment with a stupid ass look on his face like he was king of the world. She wanted to say “Listen you ugly pea-brained cave-man at the very least you could say please!” but she just shrugged and got up and got him the beer, however Rita had different plans..."


• Rude Awakening Ep. 7: Don't Sign Me Up!, by DIsaac (part 1): "JODIE: Alright, I have one more thing to cover before we are done. We need to talk about our company's involvement in the community. (EVERYBODY groins with disgust at the idea)"


• Singed Rainbow!verse Short: Daria's Revenge, by Lord Yellowtail (COMPLETE!): "'Jase? Jason! Snap out of it, bro,' Zack whispered under his breath, his normally wide and shining grin tight and grim. 'Time to face the music.' Jason suppressed a cringe, both at their fate and Zack's horrible sense of humor. He was the Red Ranger. He would not show fear in the face of his enemy. 'I can't believe I didn't see it coming,' he bemoaned."


• Unnamed story (Crossovers Still Crossing Over), by JohnHWatson (COMPLETE!): "A ragged young woman, ignoring the armed agents, walked up to the glowing, apparently iced-over old Galaxie and slipped into the driver's seat. She caressed the steering wheel, and smiled seraphically. Trent Lane shouted out, 'Janey! What are you doing?' 'I thought I'd take it for a spin!' she called, happily."


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef - Jodie the Inventor), by Chris Tucker (parts 3 - 6): "Jane's 'office' was huge. 20 feet on a side. Half the room was taken up with a drafting table and blackboards, and several lab tables. Bookcases full of reference works and journals lined the walls. The other half was graced with a large steel desk, a low table with several chairs around it, more bookcases and an ancient, battered leather couch. An equally ancient refrigerator and a complex of laboratory glassworks and a Bunsen burner filled a small table. It was the can of coffee and the bag of sugar that was the indication that the glassware was some manner of coffee maker." (Part 4) (Part 5) (Part 6)


• Unnamed story (Scenes That Should Be: Breakfast of Zombie Champions), by Jim North (COMPLETE!): "'What the hell?!' the raven-haired girl screamed in shock and anger. Even though she had already been curled into a ball in the corner of the room, Stacy somehow managed to shrink back even further in the face of her girlfriend's sudden fury. 'It's- it's not-' she stammered. 'I didn't-'"


• Unnamed story (Scenes no Daria fanfic should have: It's Friday!!), by midnightstorm (COMPLETE!): "Jane looked at Brittany oddly. 'Brittany, what are you doing?'"


• Your Local News, by Lord Yellowtail (COMPLETE!): "VJ shook her head to clear her thoughts, and turned back to look at the TV. She only had a few seconds to stare at it before her Daddy squeaked and fumbled for the remote and turned it off, and her eyes went wide. 'Daddy,' she said, padding over to him on bare feet, enjoying the feeling of carpet between her toes and making sure to avoid the spilled martini, 'who's Eric Sch -- Schrec --' she huffed and gave up, pushing her bushy hair out of her eyes in frustration. She couldn't figure out how to pronounce that. 'Who's that Eric guy, and why were they showing him with a picture of Mommy?'"


• Zombie Cards...or, A New Weapon, by Doggieboy (part 1): "For a few seconds, she listed carefully, but could only hear the people inside the school building. Many people criticized Angela Li for the money she spent in making Lawndale High an actual fortress. That included soundproofing. When it all came in handy, however, many people praised her for her insight and dedication in seeing it through. Which made her trip to New York City the day before the dead rose kind of ironic."

On the Road Again

Today marks the 13th anniversary of the premiere of a great Daria episode, "Road Worrier." Yesterday was the 12th anniversary of the appearance of "Ill," and the 17th anniversary of the Beavis and Butt-head episode "Sign Here" (a.k.a. "Petitions Suck"), which featured Daria as well. So much win...

Sorry for having to post and run. Moar on the wai todai.

BREAKING NUDES! (Huh huh huh, I said nudes, huh huh huh.) Are 30 more NEW episodes of Beavis and Butt-head on the way to us? It's just a rumor, but what a rumor! If Daria isn't featured in them, perhaps Cassandra will be.

MOAR BREAKING NUDES! (Huh huh huh huh.) Quiverwing has posted the new rules for the 2010 Daria Fanworks Awards. Read 'em and start making out your lists! (I need to update the fanfiction list, sorry.)

OTHER BREAKING NUDES! (Uh-huh, uh-huh.... forget it.) What's the difference between drama and melodrama, and why should we care? Read the thread and see.

Charliefox2012 needs help finding a fanfic. See if you know which story he's talking about, I don't believe I've seen it before.

Serious Business

Now that April Fool's Day is over, we can move on to Serious Business. Today is both International Children's Book Day and National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. You can celebrate by making yourself lunch and reading a book. Read about the history of the peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich, in fact.

Most importantly, today marks the ninth anniversary of the premiere of "Art Burn," in which Jane proves herself an expert art forger. And she has an infinite love of money. Do the math. A great career is born!

And now on to other things.

PPMB

• Anti-Trope, by Minx (continued): “So you chose to wake me up,” Dean replied as he sat up. “Nice... What time is it anyway?” “Ten a.m.,” Jane said. “I felt like annoying someone and you seemed as good a choice as any.” She shrugged and smiled mischievously at him.
• Cynic and Violence, by Peapotmaster (COMPLETE!): "Here is a Muppet News Flash! It has been confirmed that football players are mysteriously becoming stupid due to something in the school’s water supply. One football player had this to say." "I'm on TV?" "Yes." "Hi, Brittany! I’m on the Muppet Show!"
  
• The Fight, by TheSharpie (COMPLETE!): “You ****!” shouted Daria, “What, Q wasn't enough for you? You had to take the one guy who made me happy too? I thought we had finally become friends, not just sisters!”
  
• Finn Morgendorffer 40: Higher Learning, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 5): It depressed Finn more than a little that Jane would be going somewhere so far away, but truly, Finn knew it was for the best. Jane needed to succeed, she deserved to succeed. Anything Finn could do to assist that, he had to.
• Surprise, by LadieT (COMPLETE!): "We wanted to tell you in person Jane. I'm pregnant and Trent and I are getting married." Daria showed Jane the ring.

The Aliens Among Us (in Jane's School Locker)

"The Old and the Beautiful" has an interesting moment in which we get to peer inside Jane Lane's school locker. She has a drawing that looks to be of a Grey alien, and above it a sketch of some kind of tentacled Cthuloid monster with one large eye. (She's holding a bull's skull, by the way.)

Why would she have these? Yeah, I know, because she's Jane and having monster pictures in her locker is a very Jane sort of thing to do. Her brother Trent, however, has a picture of a Grey in the Tank. Wait, the Tank is owned by the drummer, Trent just drives it. The image at the lower right is from "Road Worrier." You can usually see the Grey behind Trent's head while he's driving.

If you click on the label "aliens" below, you'll get a long list of all the other aliens that have appeared in Daria over its five seasons. That's a heck of a lot, and we're not counting mentions of Sasquatch, black helicopters, clone armies, and alter egos.

Or the UFO convention with the giant green Grey making a peace sign (or victory sign?) for the crowd. (Click on pic for detail.)

Interesting place, Lawndale.

Wonder what really goes on there at night...

Caption Contest!

What is going on here?

Write dialog, do a one-liner, describe the scene, go to it.

Sandwich Day!

Let's see what's on the Daria Calendar... today is All Souls Day, and it is Bean Day if you live in North Dakota. (Think about this kid in Holiday Island High. What's he best known for? Right.) It is the 66th birthday of 1988 presidential candidate Michael Dukakis, whose bumper sticker graces the refrigerator of the Morgendorffer home (per The Daria Database). And it is the 52nd anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 2, which put the first dog in space: Laika. Cute little thing.

And it is National Sandwich Day, celebrated because the man for whom the sandwich was named—John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich—was born this day 291 years ago. An episode of 30 Rock was named for Sandwich Day, and a scene from that show provoked a hunt for the most famous sandwich in that episode. People are weird. The image at upper left is a peanut-butter sandwich drawn by the MTV staff, the same sandwich Jane peeled from Daria's butt in "Road Worrier" (upper left). Those crazy kids.

Where Are the Remaining Members of Foam Party Now?

Twelve years ago today, Alternapalooza took place in Swedesville. However, Daria Morgendorffer could not have attended it (per "Road Worrier"), as that was in 1997, the year before the Morgendorffers arrived in Lawndale. She would have had to go to the concert in 1998 (or 1999), after her sophomore year was done.

But where is Foam Party? And what of Ciggie Butt?

Speaking of big outdoor rock concerts, the original Woodstock took place 40 years ago today, and we almost contacted aliens 32 years ago today. Daria has some words of advice about Woodstock, and some words of advice for any aliens we meet as well.

Father MartinUK offers a very interesting snapshot for your edification. I hope this is the real thing!

Perverted Squirrels!

"Road Worrier" appeared for the first time 12 years ago, and "It Happened One Nut" 10 years ago. Time flies, doesn't it?

The Roswell UFO incident took place in New Mexico 62 years ago today. Wonder if one of Artie's ancestors was kidnapped there. In a related event, SF writer Robert A. Heinlein was born 102 years ago today. A few Daria crossovers exist with Heinlein connections, particularly this masterpiece.

PPMB

• Cold Comfort, by Doggieboy (Part 11): In the hour and a half since Daria left the house, the skies had darkened slightly and the rain was spotty. She climbed up, then down, several hills on her hike to the northwest and finally came to a rusted chain link fence that blocked her from making any further progress. She saw a sign a few hundred feet to her west and moved towards it. (SFMB)
• Daylight: Fallen from Grace: I Should Have Been Home Yesterday, by Disco316 (Chapter 10): Mr. Secretary: As you are likely aware, on 1/1/2000, an ELE occurred that simultaneously destroyed every electronic device and electric wire in the Washington D.C. area. We have since determined that the area of effect includes, at the least, all of the northeastern states and several to the south. We have yet to find an unaffected region, and fear that this may have been a global event.
  
• Daylight: When Worlds Divide, by Lorenzo Sauchelli (Part 3): Kyle Armalin kicked the door open and stomped his way to Daria’s desk. He was breathing hard and glaring daggers at her. Daria calmly stared at the boy in front of her. She waited for him to tell her what he was up to. When that didn’t happen, so she decided a raised eyebrow was in order. Kyle growled under his breath. “You’re one irritating woman, did anyone ever tell you that?”
  
• Legion of Lawndale Heroes Special: Tokusatsu Team Up! by Lorenzo Sauchelli (Part 11): “You mean, that crazy-ass bitch could pick up that weapon and open a hole to another dimension or something?”
• Rolling the Dice, by Ajar (Part 1): “What if the bet was about me accomplishing something that would be satisfying if I succeed?” “Such as?” “Perhaps I get someone at school to do something they'd never do. Something only a brain would do.”
• Tales of the Ringbearers: With New Responsibility, by Richard Lobinske (Part 7): The base commander paced back and forth in his office. "Pardon my skepticism, but the Corps of Ringbearers has explored the Multiverse for over nine hundred years and we've never heard the slightest thing about your agency."
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: The Great Flood), by Dennis (COMPLETE!): "And I can't go out with Corey and Cliff on the same night, so Sandi told me to get Stacy to sub on the date with Corey, but Stacy's got a date with Robert, and anyway, she doesn't like Corey, and I don't want to make her go out with someone she doesn't want to go out with, but then..."
• Unnamed story (Second Coming of the New Ideas Thread), by Trscroggs (Part 1): “At ease men,” The general began, “We have a live one this time. And it isn’t going to be a pretty one.” The general let the men shift uncomfortably for a moment before continuing. “This time we’re going after an actual Guardian, class unknown.”

"Road Worrier": When It Happened

Ah, the screaming crowd, the crashing guitars, the overpriced souvenirs, the long lines at the restrooms: nothing says "misery" like a rock concert. We know when "Road Worrier" took place, thanks to the poster in The Daria Diaries, but in what year?

Richard Lobinske pointed out in an essay that the only time during Daria that August 15-17 fell on a Friday through Sunday (as it does this year) was in 1997. This makes hash out of the idea that the Morgendorffers came to Lawndale in the fall of 1997, but that's how it goes.

However, if it took place in 1998 (ten years ago today!), it ran over a Saturday, Sunday, & Monday weekend, which isn't so bad. School was out, so teens could go all three days. Works for me.

So play some loud rock music this weekend and celebrate the shipping that wasn't (Daria/Trent, I mean). Listen to Sigourney, Crease, and Ciggie Butt. Write a fanfic about Ciggie Butt (what a great band name!). And wonder where the heck Swedesville is, anyway. More soon.

Shipper's Delight

"Road Worrier" premiered on MTV just eleven years ago today, and "It Happened One Nut" did the same nine years ago at this time. Both are favorites of Daria/Trent shippers. I thought the latter was funnier, though the former gets higher ratings from fans.

My favorite scene in RW is when Jane can tell Daria is thinking up sarcastic remarks but doesn't dare say them aloud. My favorite scene in IHON comes when Daria and Jane walk through the Lawndale Mall looking for jobs but, of course, deliberately miss all the "help wanted" signs. And I loved Joanna. I need to use her in a fanfic sometime. If you have a favorite scene from either episode, or a favorite line of dialogue, put it in the Comments section for all to admire.

By the way, both episodes' pages on DariaWiki need some work. Please contribute! I'll do my part soon. (LATE ADD: Okay, I added something. Your turn.)

Fanfic Quiz: In Brother Grimace's story, "The One Day We Forget," who died on this day in 1976?

Richard Lobinske has again updated the 2008 Visual FanWorks Listing. Outstanding! How far behind am I on updating the fanfic list? Oh. Better get to it this month.

I forgot earlier to mention that C.F.'s masterful essay on Outpost Daria about Daria's role in Beavis and Butt-head has been updated! Read and celebrate!

Few recent stories have inspired the level of feedback and argument/discussion that "Common People" has managed to ignite. Kudos to NightGoblyn for whacking the hornet's nest. You rule!

PROBLEM: For reasons unknown, someone has posted a Danny Phantom story to the Daria section in FF.net. Any ideas on how to get it (re-)moved?


FF.net

• Box to the Future, by Smileyfax (Part 6): Things just get worse and worse, spiraling totally out of control. I love it. (Doubt that the Morgendorffers' home in Highland had two floors, judging from the pic in "Boxing Daria," but who cares. Much goodness here.)
• The Long Shot, by livingsacrifice22 (Part 1): "Oh, get off it, Quinn. You had nothing to do with Stacy's new-found love or whatever." But Quinn doesn't agree, and she becomes a matchmaker. You know this is going to end badly, so start reading!

PPMB

• Calling Calliope, by Dennis (Part 1): It's Tiffany. On Dega Street. With an old acquaintance from "Lucky Strike." OMG OMG OMG.
  
• The Cynic and The Defender, by Doggieboy (Part 6): The knife in his back came as a total surprise.
• New Life, by legendeld (Part 9): “Your folks are really cool,” Trent said after arriving at the restaurant. “They’re sex fiends,” Quinn grumbled.
  
• Stacy Rowe, Seeker (Part II), by jtranser (continued): "I charge extra for stupidity." —Luhrman. [Another immortal fanfic line!]
• Too Late, by legendeld (COMPLETE!): Angst. It's not just for breakfast, lunch, and dinner anymore. Mmmmmmmmmmm.