X Stands for "The Lawndale File"

We need more Artie fics, I was just thinking. Let's see, ten years ago exactly, "The Lawndale File" was released from its cage on MTV. I wrote a bit about this last year. Not sure how many more Daria fanfics or fanfic concepts were spawned from this episode. Anyone have any favorites? (I liked this one.) There was a naughty story based on Artie and the aliens, I recall, but we won't go there. If someone could fix up the appropriate page in DariaWiki, we would all be very grateful.

Going to the Midwest US Dariacon? Check here!

What else is going on... the President of the United States turns 48 today. Many more happies to you.

Ninety-seven years ago today, a man was born in Sweden who had a mostly obscure and unremarkable life until he saw people around him being persecuted, hounded, forced into railroad cars to be taken away to death camps. He then did a very remarkable thing: he began saving people. No one can say how many Hungarian Jews Raoul Wallenberg rescued from certain death, though it is in the tens of thousands at least. Thank you for everything.

Oh! And who could forget Saint Sithney, whose feast day this is? Someone really needs to write a story about this Saints' Day Holiday from Holiday Island High School. He is really and truly the patron saint of mad dogs. That's what I said. Perhaps he is still trying to heal Jake Morgendorffer's emotional trauma from this mad dog.

Moar 2 kumm. Stae toond. Oh! Right, someone asked for a link to that alter ego of Daria as a motorcyclist. Here it is. It was part of a screensaver posted on The N's website once. I used it as "D-Day" Morgendorffer, but it is exactly the same pic. Enjoy.

The Truth Is Way, Way Out There!

Nine years ago today, "The Lawndale File" came to MTV. The episode didn't go anywhere and had some unlikely subplots, but it is worth a thought on ways that the two FBI-ish agents (pseudo-Scully & Mulder) could be worked into fanfics. Who were they, really? Were they villains, foes, threats, dangers to society, or (worst of all) from the IRS? How else could they have been used? (I remember using them in "Scarlett," but I don't recall anyone else using them.)

"The Lawndale File" did spawn at least two fanfics, both with strong SF overtones: "It's That Guy" and "And I on the Opposite Shore Will Be."

This date was also important in two fanfics. First: "A Killer in Lawndale." (The story has some unintentionally amusing spots.)

Second: "The Alternate History Teacher." Today is the date of the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, which turned the Vietnam War from a small war into a huge one, despite the fact that the incident was a big mistake. Does this sound familiar?

Speaking of important days, today is one of those multitudinous saint's days seen in "Depth Takes a Holiday": The Feast Day of Saint Sithney, the patron saint of mad dogs! (Not Jake's dad, I think. Or maybe he was.) No, seriously, Saint Sithney is the actual patron saint of mad dogs. I have no idea how that got started. This is a character who really needs to appear in Daria fanfic!

If you are a Canadian, Holiday Island High wishes you a happy Civic Holiday. Wonder what that kid looks like. Sorta Canadian, I imagine.

Finally . . . Happy Birthday, Barack Obama! Who do you think the Daria cast will vote for this year?

PPMB

• A Simple Makeup Kit, by Richard Lobinske (Part 3): Ninth-grader Daria asks a boy out to the theater. Will there be disaster and heartbreak, or merely the end of the world? Time will tell.
  
• Stacy Rowe, Seeker (Part II), by jtranser (continued): "The Ring has its own mission, which is to create the Universe of the Sixth Sun." [Wait until you find out HOW that will be done, though!]
• Turnabout Confusion Part II: All The King's Horses, by Dennis (continued): "Work with?" Scarlett asked, clearly intrigued despite herself. "Why would I want to work with you on anything?" "Not even on running the school?" Sandi asked, raising an eyebrow.