Something for the Treehuggers

Lest we forget (which I did), the last Friday of every April is Arbor Day in the U.S., which means it would be nice if you planted a tree today, or at least avoiding cutting down a nice looking one.

Here is Arbor Day (better picture than usual) from "Depth Takes a Holiday." Poor treehugger kid, picked on by everyone who doesn't love trees. Looks sad. Bummer.

The creative Ms. Kinnikufan has created another Iron Chef for the writers among us: Daria in the Supreme Court. What cases would she oversee? What would her life as a justice be like? Will Jane spill the beans about Daria's unpaid traffic tickets?

List of new fanfics coming shortly, need to take care of stuff. And speaking of trees, enjoy The Oaks!

PPMB

• Beta Testing, by RLobinske (COMPLETE!): "A precognitive computer?" Archangel asked. "Yes and no. It doesn't predict the future, it records it." "This is going to be one of those explanations that makes my head hurt, isn't it?" (FF.net)
  
• NEW! Daria: Hunter 5—Infectious, by Jim North (continued): "Nothing but blood," Burnout said as they stepped back out into the hallway. "Maybe, maybe not," said Daria. "We won't know unless we look, and it's better than wandering around aimlessly. Don't worry... tracking people down is our business. We'll find them."
  
• Finn Morgendorffer 44: My Three Young Women, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 3): “There’s a lot of things I could say about Finn,” said Jane. “It’s awkward enough,” Daria cut her friend off. “But I’m sure he’s flattered.” “I know I gotta talk to him, but... I just know I’m gonna hate it.” “Well, he’s busy anyway.” “Busy?” Jane asked. “He said he was going to lunch with Sierra, and then to some party.” “And he didn’t invite me?” Jane’s eyebrows cocked.
• Omnia Mutantur, by Yogi (COMPLETE!): “Why madam, it is truly my pleasure to welcome such a vision of loveliness to the very humble halls of Lawndale High.” It took Daria a few seconds before she realized that it had been addressed at her. Looking up, she saw a boy with orange/red hair and freckles giving her a wide smile. “Uh, thanks. My name’s Daria. Daria Morgendorffer” Daria replied, cursing her sudden lack of eloquence. She wasn’t expecting this, he had caught her off guard, everything was happening so fast. “Charles Ruttheimer the Third, at your service” the boy said, making a deep bow.
• Parents Are People, by Legendeld (Part 2): Quinn didn't need her to explain the statement, she only nodded. She was afraid the sound of her own voice agreeing would unleash tears. So this is the whole growing up thing Daria is always talking about. It sucks royally.
• NEW! Weighted Clothes, by Yogi (Part 1): Too small Pink T-shirt? Check. Fashionable Jeans? Check. Makeup? Check. Complete and utter destruction of her pride and self respect? Well, hopefully it wouldn’t come to that. “OK, “ Daria thought, going through the plan in her mind one more time. “3-Js come, dad calls out that my dates are here, though he’ll probably think they’re Quinn’s. Quinn exits room to see what is up, runs into me, mission accomplished. No one but Quinn will ever see, and my dignity will remain intact.” “Quinn! Your dates are here!”
  

Happy Science-Fiction Day!

Isaac Asimov, the immortal Russian-American science-fiction writer (and biochemist, science writer, fantasy writer, mystery writer, and writer of everything else, to the tune of 500+ books) was born this day 90 years ago. It would be impossible to calculate his influence on my life, as I devoured whatever he wrote that I could find back when I was in high school. The Internetz have proclaimed this as Science-Fiction Day in his honor, and so be it. Thank you for everything, and thank you, UU and Pinhead, for the above image. (Can anyone guess where it came from?)

More shortly, need to wake up first.

Happy National Hangover Day!

To help you through this time of self-induced alcohol-fueled existential angst, we have fanfiction for you. But first, the art. Before that, though, the newz.

NEWZ!

• More discussion about crossovers to be: what works, what sucks, how to do it, everything.
• The Other 2009 Fanworks (i.e., the Dariarotic ones) have been listed by Disco316. READ & VOTE!
• The Daria: Hunter Shared World Series Bible has been upgraded & updated by Jim North.
• Two intriguing new Iron Chefs: A Nanny for the Morgendorffers, by Ms. Kinnikufan; and Cargo Ship, by Derek.
  

THE ART!

• Hershey-chan's masterpiece: Jane/Mack! In living color, no less! And there was much rejoicing!
• Disco316 has collected all of 2009's Adult Visual Works for Booties voting.

PPMB

• Daria Is Raven's Apprentice, by Project Pegasus (continued): "Say Robin, Old Man Wayne is rich. Maybe he can loan you a little more than that stack of dimes you're packing."
• The Dream of the White Darkness, by jtranser (continued): At that point, long supple wires came out of the mask's mouth and directly plugged into her forehead. At that instant, a Powerpoint presentation streamed into her brain in a strict orderly fashion. At the same time, Daria was aware that all the directories and files in her brain were being renamed as inconsistencies were removed and consigned to the Land of the Gone Forever.
• Esteeminator: The Daria Morgendorffer Chronicles, by Jim North (Part 1): Just as she started walking down the sidewalk, lights started flaring from a nearby alleyway, accompanied by an electrical noise. At first Terry thought that a transformer must have exploded, but the light and sound continued for several seconds before tapering off. Curious—and worried that someone might have been hurt by the display, or something else important might have been damaged—she carefully edged around the corner to see what had happened. Before Terry could get a good look, she was almost run down by a young woman exiting the alley. The girl was thin, but with an athletic build, which was easy to see since she was completely nude. She looked the older woman up and down, then spoke in a flat, emotionless voice. "Your clothes. Give them to me."
• Falling into College 72: Valley of Love and Delight, by Richard Lobinske (Part 1): "Please tell me that you're going to be gaming and not using it to watch CGI porn. If you're going to do that, have a little self-respect and get a real stripper."
• Invisible Love, by Charliefox2012 (Parts 9 and 10): The idea of Jane being with a guy made his heart seize painfully. And he knew that he was in trouble if he was starting to have feelings for his best and only friend. I can’t like her! This can’t happen! She is just a friend and a good one at that. I will not ruin this with a stupid crush. (FF.net)
  
• Legion of Lawndale Heroes Mini: Fundamental Attribution Error, by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): Jane once told me that Daria will help someone in need, that she can be a soft touch. And I heard that when Daria was at USAES, she made out with all of the telepaths. Telepathically. I think.
• A Night of Bells (but no Whistles), by Doggieboy (COMPLETE!): "Well, I guess that I can call you an iron maiden now, huh?" "Oh, you're a real laugh riot."
• Spirit of the Law, by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): "You're the Devil." Helen said it as a statement, not a question, and without a touch of fear in her voice. "I knew that I'd probably run into you sooner or later—but I thought I'd run into you at a hearing at the appellate level..."
• Tears of the Cynic, by thatLONERchick (Part 1): Daria awoke in a fog. She lifted her head from the pillow, hair stuck to the side of her face and ruffled with sleep, to find a single glistening ruby perched upon the white linen pillowcase. Unease gripped the girl and the last fuzzy fingers of sleep fell away as she stared down at the blood droplet and slowly, a trembling hand traced her cheeks, lips, nose, chin. Nothing. Daria's eyes closed as her fingers wiped first tear duct, then the other. Red-tinged emerald eyes opened to the thick smear of blood across her fingers. Her heart fell, and she sighed. "Someone is going to die today."
• Two Halves 5: Mall Rat Blues, by Dark Kuno (continued): “Mission accomplished,” the freckled boy announced. “You seem to still have a full set of teeth, so I doubt Brittany agreed to model bikinis for you,” commented Alex.
• Unnamed story (Ryōri no Tetsujin (Iron Chef): Twit...errrrs), by Ajar (COMPLETE!): [too short to sample]
• Unnamed story (Ryōri no Tetsujin (Iron Chef): Twit...errrrs), by Jim North (COMPLETE!): [too short to sample]
• Unnamed story (Ryōri no Tetsujin (Iron Chef): Twit...errrrs), by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): [too short to sample]
• Unnamed story (Something That Popped into My Head (Damn tvtropes)), by Gouka Ryuu (COMPLETE!): It couldn’t possibly be true. That’s what Daria thought to herself from the moment she read the letter and all the information in the packet she had received in the mail about a week ago. The mantra was still going through her mind as she tried to decide whether this all thing was a good idea or not.

This concludes the year 2009 in Daria fanfiction. Thank you for being with us. Just ahead: 2010. Peace out.

New Year's Traditions: Getting Totally Wasted

While this tradition seems pretty obvious, there are special procedures that must be observed:

1. Singing traditional songs.

2. Playing traditional games.

3. Eating traditional foods.

4. Unintentionally destroying property.

5. Having deeply meaningful conversations.

6. Offering candid assessments of the party.

7. Offering candid assessments of the partygoers.

8. Escape.

9. Final thoughts.

In with the Old, Out with the New!

Pinhead and UU have once again come through for us. In with the New Year, out with the Old Year, something like that.

The following posts are this blog's feeble attempt to cheer those who are spending the New Year's celebrations at home on the computer. Unlike me.

Oh, you might check out the constantly growing number of "In the Spotlight" online interviews with Daria fans, by Daria fans, on PPMB. Vlora and Devilkitty are the new ones up.

And Minx's new version of Quinn.

And Vlora's continuing display of outrageous artistic talent, of which I have none. (The Daria pin-up is mind-blowing.)

NEWZ FLASH! Torn Between Two Sisters!

In the grand tradition of the worst supermarket gossip tabloids, mega-actor Ralph Fiennes (born 47 years ago today) once found himself torn between the steamy lusts of two oppositional sisters: the brainy and cynical Amy Barksdale (left) and the blonde Rita Barksdale (right). As you recall, Amy confessed her undying devotion to Ralph (pronounced like Rafe, rhymes with safe) in "Through a Lens Darkly," but tragically lost him to the scheming Rita before the airing of "Aunt Nauseam" (Rita: "... I promised Ralph—you know, the actor I've been dating—I promised to take him to New York for his birthday, maybe catch a play or two.") Thus, we know "Aunt Nauseam" takes place near this day, in December about 1999-2000.

Why would two animated sisters find themselves catfighting over this man? A close look at Mr. Fiennes in his best known work outfits, shown below, reveals all. No wonder these hot-blooded women cast aside all sororal affection and civilized decency to have him for their very own!

Another cold case solved by the unstoppable Detective TAG. (Thanks once again to the awesome UU and Pinhead for the great images above!)

Movie Quiz: Name the three roles that Ralph Fiennes played in the three movies represented in the above images. Then say what it was about each role that got the Barksdale sisters so hot and bothered. On the other hand, maybe we'd best skip that. And skip the part about how Helen Morgendorffer fits in there, too.

We Were All Students Once

Today is International Students Day, which has its roots in the Second World War. (Rather shocking story, really.) It would be interesting to see if any cynics we know at Lawndale High ever celebrated this day in unusual ways. Maybe Mr. O'Neill could give out homework assignments for this special day, and shocking things happen as a result. Fanfic, fanfic, fanfic... (Thanks to UU for the image!)

The Elizabethan Era began this day a mere 451 years ago, when Elizabeth I took the throne of England and Ireland. Daria appears as Elizabeth I in the alter ego below, with the Bard of All Bards who flourished in this period: Shakespeare. (Thanks to Pinhead for the images!)

Daria was born this day in 1983, according to one writer's tale: Wildgoose's "Season's End." She lives to be 100 years old.

Modified Julian Day Zero was 151 years ago today. Ah, those crazy Julian Days. I don't understand the concept at all, but it's all over the Internet, so here it is. Do with it as you will.

Time for fanfic!

PPMB

• Daria: Hunter—The Love Triangle, by Jim North (continued): "Daria!" Quinn called out. "Save us!" "Yes, thank you, Quinn," Daria returned, her eyes never leaving Jamie. "That's exactly what I'm trying to do."
• Finn Morgendorffer 15: Believers, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 1): “You’re just like your sister,” Mrs. Morris commented. Finn stopped on a dime. “I beg your pardon?” “Your sister, Daria Morgendorffer. She doesn’t participate, sits out in protest. And now she has to make up gym class after school. No wonder you two are related.”
  

You Woke Up the Dead, So Put 'Em to Bed

Gettin' late, party's over, zombies have to be reburied. My thanks to Pinhead (at right) for the most excellent alter egos, to UU for more magnificent images, to Richard Lobinske for chipping in some excellent art with his posts, and to you for reading this.

The more alert among you might notice that this website has now joined the last existing Daria Webring, which apparently started out as the Other Daria Webring. It kinda fun to explore the ring and see where it leads; not very big at the moment but there's room to grow. Webrings were big about a decade ago. They're still around, good to see 'em. Maybe more webmasters will join in for the fun of it.

Hope your Halloween was a good one. Tomorrow is a new day and a new month (and this blog will run over 124,000 hits). Cheers.

Memento

Five years ago today, in another Dariaverse, Private Quinn Louise Morgendorffer was killed in action in Iraq. Her story is here. Thank you, Guy. We will all remember you.

In the real world, "The Story of D" premiered eight years ago yesterday.

I'm still looking through the flipbooks that reappeared on MTV's Daria website (see yesterday's post). Awesome. Someone at MTV looked out for us. Thanks! and thanks to you, UU, for finding out.

Caption Contest!

Superfan UU was kind enough to send this image to me, showing Jodie signing Brittany's yearbook in Is It Fall Yet? Your mission: tell us in the Comments section what Jodie wrote!

The Other Jane Lane

Alert reader UU sent an interesting e-mail about a famous Jane Lane from history, about whom I knew nothing but should have. "I do not think that particular one . . . has ever been mentioned by the fans of Daria," he writes. "Pity she died childless. She was a Catholic, and Vincent is a Catholic name, more or less."


UU offered the above link. Wonder if Jane was named for this one. Her parents probably just liked the rhyme.


Hmmm, no famous other people named Daria Morgendorffer. Shame about that.