...and after the National Anthem came...

On this special day in television history, 71 years ago, the Indian Head Test Pattern was completed by an RCA artist named Brooks, who hand-drew the whole thing. The test pattern was used by TV stations after they signed off the air. Eventually TV stations remained on the air 24/7, and the test pattern fell out of use. However, many in North America remember the days of old when they stayed up too late and fell asleep in front of the TV, only to awaken to the sound of an annoying tone and the above image. It is not likely Daria or Jane would recall this image, but Jake and Helen would know it on sight.

NO0OZ!

• What would Daria have looked like if Filmation Studios had done the series? Wouter provides images to jump-start would-be fan artists.

FF.net

• Daria and Dan Beavers: A New Beginning, by Coonassblondie (Part 1): Contrary to popular belief, Todd wasn't an idiot. He was a thief, yes, but not stupid. He was fairly certain that blond half of the Idiot Duo had a concussion. He picked the boy up bodily and laid him in his back seat, startling slightly when the kid groaned and his eyes slit open. Good, Idiot boy was awake. Todd had always heard you were supposed to keep people with concussions awake. He would drop the kid off at the emergency room and disappear. Yea, he wasn't stupid. (Daria/Beavis and Butt-head) [Contains mature content]
  

PPMB

• Daria/Dorian 7: Motorcycles and Jocks Don't Mix, by LadieT (Part 3): Jane waited for Dorian to say something, anything, about what happened in gym. They were halfway through lunch when Dorian was paged to the office. Letting out a long sigh, Dorian gave Jane a quick hug before walking out of the cafeteria. Sitting in the secretary's room was Jake. While exiting the building, Jake explained the situation. "Ms. Li called your mom and told her about Kevin's motorcycle incident. Is it true you encouraged him to do that?"
• Finn Morgendorffer 56: A Journey to Eternity, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 6): “So, before I get into announcing my successor, and to stall for time until the burgers get done, let’s talk about what a crazy-ass year it’s been. We took State, Barch got fired, and Ms. Li... I don’t remember what the term was, but she’s gone, too.” “Don’t forget Mr. O’Neill,” Leanne chuckled. “Oh yeah, sorry, I did forget,” Finn returned. “So anyway, the evil regime is over, and school can actually be a place where you learn stuff instead of whining about feelings, strip searches for contraband candy that isn’t from an overpriced fund-raiser, and having to fake like we’re sorry for being born male.”
• General Semantics, Private Angst, by Gwrtheyrn (Part 29): Daria was in transit from the bathroom toward the office, walking slowly, deep in thought, when Tiff caught up to her and touched her shoulder for attention. "Tiff! What's wrong?" "We've—taken a non-binding straw vote, because of what we've heard from that—guy. Nineteen to—zero, so far, say we need to evacuate this location." Daria wasn't surprised. The process Sherman had used to find them wouldn't work again, but the power department itself had data which could parallel that search. It wouldn't be all that hard to find them if the enemy started looking intelligently. "Are we racing a lit fuse?" Tiff looked blank. "Sorreee?" "Do we have to move instantly?"
• God Save the Esteem 3: Family Devalued, by Charles RB (Part 1): “So zombies really exist,” said Daria, stunned. “Now come on, the car’s not that bad,” protested Tom. “I think you need these glasses more than I do.” Tom had been acting smug all day at school, stating he’d got his own car to go with his learner’s license. At the end of the day, Daria and Jane had agreed to come along and let him show it off to them... only to find the most ancient, rust-riddled Jaguar imaginable. “I paid for it myself, saving up with my part-time job.” Tom proudly patted the car, causing it to groan under the pressure. “In later years I can look back at this baby and be proud.” “And today, you can look back at it to find out which piece has fallen off this time.”
• In Any Other World, by Charles RB (COMPLETE!): She could always count on Joey, Jeffy, and that other one to brighten up lunch. Usually the football team stuck to cheerleaders but those three always crowded round her, and thanks to them so did other team players. She was doing better than she ever had in Highland and Sandi was jealous as hell. It was great. “Hey, is that Mike talking to a brain?” Quinn glanced up and her face fell. Mike—red-mohawked bad boy of the team, someone she’d been working on nabbing—was talking to Daria. Damn. “Dude, that’s not a brain, that’s one of the retards from the retard table. She must’ve got lost.” “Oh, right. Sucks to be her then.”
• John Lane 47: Another Look in the Mirror, by RLobinske (COMPLETE!): Erin was glad that the booths at the Pizza Place were the wider versions that seated six instead of the usual four. She was seated next to Daria, with John against the wall while across the table were Quinn and Tom. They had finished their pizza and were still working on sodas when she said, "I'm sorry, everybody. I didn't think that Brian would follow me." Daria said, "I really don't think that you planned for him to show up, get into a fight with Dad and John, and get arrested." John teased, "That's what she wants you to think. I'm sure it was all part of her grand design."
• Stacy Rowe, Seeker (Part III), by jtranser (continued): It was the Night of the Dark Moon as they stealthily crossed the border. The K'iche Mayans accompanying Daria's group had gone ahead and secured the trails leading to their destination. Using special warding symbols gathered from all over the Mayan lands, they set the paths that may not be crossed and hung obstacle charms that pinned the mind of any would-be adversary to a single thought repeating itself over and over. And, as that thought echoed through their mind, their legs would be directed to perform a demented suicidal jig marching through a grove of Cameraria trees whose toxic sap, released by casual touch, is as excruciatingly painful as it is deadly.
• Unnamed story (Crossovers Still Crossing Over), by Chris Tucker (COMPLETE!): The explosions rocked Lawndale. The top ten floors of the Lawndale Savings and Trust crashed to the street below. As the dust cleared, the shape of a giant, humanoid shaped thing became visible. One of the few survivors of the devastation brushed the dust and dirt from her black skirt suit. She straightened her black necktie. Raising her wristwatch to her mouth, she spoke clearly... (Daria/The Big O)
  
• Unnamed story (Crossovers Still Crossing Over), by LSauchelli (COMPLETE!): Daria glared at the road before her as she stepped on the gas as hard as she could. She was heading to Tom's family's stupid party. It wasn't that she was going because she wanted to see Tom or anything, she was just... angry at her parents. It was a rare occasion, indeed, when she was actually angry. It's not that she never got annoyed at the world in general; in fact, that was quite usual for her. But to be really angry? Never. She couldn't believe her parents would lie to her. And what was the deal with the fridge box anyway? Of course her dad had wanted to leave her as a kid, why hadn't she thought that had ever happened? (Daria/Life on Mars/Ashes to Ashes)
  
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Gangster School?), by LSauchelli (COMPLETE!): "How'd your day with Venom go?" asked Jane as Daria stepped out of the Manta outside the school's front door. "Went fine in terms of demonstrating my career aptitude. I just wish they'd done better showing how badly they messed up past missions," said Daria as Vanessa drove off. (Daria/M.A.S.K./G.I. Joe-COBRA)