My Night at Tokyo Toby's

"My Night at Daria's" was first broadcast on MTV on this day nine years ago, and that's just the start of the many anniversaries and celebrations this day marks.

Civil rights activist Susan B. Anthony was fined $100 in court on this day 137 years ago, for voting in the 1872 presidential election. At the time it was illegal for women to vote in the United States. She presented her case with fire and eloquence to no avail, though it ensured her place in history. She never paid the fine.

Today is Autistic Pride Day, a topic relevant here because a number of fans believe Daria could have been a high-functioning autistic. The debate rages here on PPMB.

Sushi, anyone? This is International Sushi Day, too. It just so happens there is an alter ego for this very purpose, featuring Jake Morgendorffer, per his troubles with sushi in (drum roll) "My Night at Daria's," mentioned above. Nice timing. My favorite lines that Jake says about sushi: "Damn it, Helen, I know there's something crawling up my throat, and I think it's a parasite courtesy of Tokyo Toby's Parasite Restaurant! If I stand still, I can even feel it laughing inside of me..." and "Help me, Helen... before the madness sets in."

Former Beatle and Wings man Paul McCartney turns 68 today. Legendary firefighter Red Adair has his 95th birthday anniversary, too. (Best quote from Mr. Adair: "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.")

An odd bit of astronomical trivia: It was 832 years ago tonight that a group of monks witnessed an unusual event on the Moon. Puzzled, they recorded their observations in detail. It now appears that the monks saw the formation of the lunar crater Giordano Bruno.

PPMB

• Daria: The Puppet Princess of Lawndale, by OverlordMikey (Part 1): In the small village of Glen Oaks, located in the Kingdom of Lawndale lived a simple young girl named Daria, who lived alone with her father Jake the Blacksmith. Daria was blessed with a strange and magical gift. She had the ability to speak to puppets... (Daria/Rhapsody)
• Into the Fray, by Minx (Part 12): Quinn clutched the shotgun with clammy hands. She had never actually used a rifle before but the boys had shown everyone how to fire and load them. With a ragged breath she held it up and made sure the butt of the rifle was firmly pressed into the hollow of her shoulder so if or when she fired it the recoil action wouldn't cause the gun to fly back and shatter the bones in her shoulder. Quinn released the safety and lined the figure up. (FF.net)
  
• Judith Strikes! The Long Good Sandi, by Charles RB (COMPLETE!): Judith had time to realise she’d made a tactical error before Daria emerged from behind a row of dresses. She was firing a mercenary’s rifle and walking calmly forward, and two mercenaries were down before the others returned fire. “HAHAHAHA NO IDEA AT ALL WHIRL THE REAPWIND AHAHA” Bullets flew past her but she walked on, unhurried, expressionless, leaving all the soldiers dead as she went.
• Little Sister, by LadieT (COMPLETE!): In the twenty years they had known each other, Daria had never seen Jane look so exhausted. "Where are my parents?" Daria whispered. "They are in Quinn's room." Jane said. "Is Quinn okay?" Daria asked. Jane's silence told Daria more than a million words could have.
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef Challenge: Post-Angstpocalypse), by OverlordMikey (COMPLETE!): Her aunt was being held at gunpoint, a suitcase of money in her hands. "Get away from her!" Daria rushed forward and was knocked aside. She founded herself falling. The drop felt longer than it really was. Shortly thereafter came a gunshot and another body limp and lifeless fell beside her... it was her aunt.