Insert Your Own Snake/Lawyer Joke Here

I think Helen is overachieving for World Snake Day, but I guess we shouldn't have expected anything less. Maybe she could put the bow and arrow down, though.

Today is also the anniversary of the Apollo 11 spaceflight, so all you space nerds in fandom should party hard.

Fanfic Update!

• Alone Again, Inevitably (Linn's short stories (or ficlets, drabbles...)), by Linnofthewoods (COMPLETE!): "Jane couldn't sleep. The past two months with her beloved Alan at her side had come to an abrupt end with a phone call he'd gotten during dinner the night before."


• Daria on the Trail (Daria Landing In Another Fanfiction: An Experiment), by Meester_Lee (part 6): "They’d gotten down from Scott’s Bluff, then circled the wagons and made camp a couple of miles further west."


• Daria's Cruise, by Meester_Lee (part 1): "It started in a United Grocery parking lot."


• I'm Just Drawn That Way, by Honey-On-Toast (part 1): "Helen had no choice but to forgive her daughter. She'd gone so far as to consider the alternative and tried. And that was really all she could ask for."


• Oh, Sister (The Carbones), by Oh, Sister (part 1): "It's morning and Jim is waking up. As he emerges from bed 1950's jazz music plays."

This Moon is Really Shiny

Tiffany's keeping a sharp lookout for astronauts because today marks the 46th anniversary of the Apollo 11 spaceflight--the first manned spaceflight to the Moon. I don't think it'll be a long stay, though. There are only so many times you can tell a girl she's not fat before returning to the empty vacuum of space starts to look appealing.

Fandom News!

• ognawk and Princess_Pasta have posted a new Lawndale Lowdown podcast.


• Talk about Trump's America in The Sidhe's new thread.


• See the Ash vs. Evil Dead trailer and discuss the upcoming series.


• tafka has begun her Big Brother Lawndale project.


• Two new Iron Chefs have been posted in Creative Writing: Zetor's Dance like Nobody's Watching and GlitterShrooms's A Scene and Its Song.

That's One Small Step for an Overachiever....

Today is the anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969! That's worth celebrating even if you aren't a space travel fanatic. Jodie's recreating the big event, perhaps as a nice boost to her resume.

In more recent news, today is also the anniversary of the airing of "See Jane Run" in 1998. Jane didn't make it to the moon, but she did get to wipe that contemptuous smirk off Ms. Morris's face. Equally satisfying, in its own way.

Fanfic Update!

• The 180 Degree Turn Ch. 1: New Page, but Same Book, by Walter Kovacs (part 1): "Before Elsie could do more than roll her eyes in annoyance, her door opened and the youngest member of the triplets (by five minutes) stuck his head in and smiled at them. 'Hey guys, It appears that we have new neighbors.' He informed his siblings; 'They’re moving in right now.'"


• All's Fare (A kinda-sorta IC - No Gas!), by DeacBlue (part 2): "'Breaking news!' the announcer said. 'Wildfires have gotten out of control in the national forest, twenty miles west of Lawndale. Reports are that a group or groups of campers are in danger of being cut off, and emergency services do not have enough fuel to reach them.'"


• Armored Cynic Daria, Episode 2: The 8th Circuit, by RX-87 (part 6): "EXT: Daria sits on the roof of her house, looking up at the night sky. DARIA: All my life, I wanted that kind of power."


• At the Crossroads...(Chapter 12), by oni (COMPLETE!): "'Quinn, I apologize if I come to this conclusion, but are you using Black Friday as a shopping day for yourself?' Caving in, Quinn replied with defeat in her voice, 'Yeah.' Sandi mentally held herself back from saying anything else to Quinn, but as the four of them entered the mall, she did have only one thought running through her head. 'I’ve been tricked into waking up for your typical shopping outing... I’ve been tricked into waking up for your typical shopping outing... I’ve been tricked...'"


• A Brothers Duty, by Gnome (COMPLETE!): "I feel someone watching me. Another late night traveler, a huge specimen. She observes me with tired eyes. Her reflexes are slow, she cannot possibly prove a challenge to me. I allow myself a slight smile. But I must not let myself grow too complacent. We all need the same thing, and most of the prey had already been taken."



• Ethan Yeager in Lawndale: Ch 9 Soaking Up Summer, by Shiva (part 4): "Daria wished to whatever deities were out there ranging from the Apophis to Zeus that she could temporarily shut down her brain for the duration of what she was having to endure for her second dinner at the Sloanes. 'Daria!' Quinn whined, 'Come on out now, it couldn’t have taken you that long to change into the next outfit.'"


• Good Nutrition (Scenes no Daria Fanfic should ever have: Embrace the Madness), by Shiva (COMPLETE!): "'It's just like old Tim said,' Daria said after burping and wiping her face with a napkin, 'Good nutrition is important too.'"


• The Hunter Home from the Hill, by DeacBlue (part 12): "Daria could hear Jane's smile over the line. 'So what's up, amiga?' 'Well, besides the fact that I want to see my newly-minted girlfriend,' Daria's smile widened until it almost split her face, 'Quinn has some questions about what happened last night. Can you come over?'"


• Immortal Blood, by Shiva (part 7): "Then just as he began to head on out, O’Neill put what he thought was a comforting hand on Skylar’s shoulder and brushed the skin of his neck. 'Oh dear,' O’Neill breathed in shock as he felt... 'You’re so cold Skylar, are you sure you’re alright?' 'Lawsuit!' Skylar snapped at him with an unknowing flash of deathly blue seeping through his illusionary baby-blues and causing the fear of the Grim Reaper to grip his teacher’s bowels."


• It's Only Another Daria/Quinn Torture Story (Scenes no Daria Fanfic should ever have: Embrace the Madness), by Shiva (COMPLETE!): "'People see us everywhere / They think you really care.' Sang the beautiful blond cowboy while strumming his guitar."


• Kinetic Adventures, by MetalShadowX (part 9): "'You think you'll get away with this?' 'As long as you want your identity kept secret, then yes I do.' 'Just who the hell are you to blackmail me like this?!' 'Don't you recognize me? I'm disappointed in you,' she smirked, 'big sis.'"



• The Kissing Book, by DeacBlue (parts 6 - 8): "'Jane, I love you, so please don't be offended when I tell you that that's so stupid that it just might -' Daria picked that moment to step into a patch of sand and disappear." (Part 7) (Part 8)


• A Lift (IC: Sam Stack), by Shiva (COMPLETE!): "'Thanks for the lift,' Jane said as she climbed into the passenger seat of the black sports car. 'You sure about not calling a wrecker?' the brown-haired muscular god asked with some concern, eyeing the beat up blue corvette on the side of the road."


• Long, Cold School Year (Iron Chef - Doug, Susan and Ramona), by LadieT (COMPLETE!): "'Ramona Thatcher,' the teacher said with a slight growl in her voice as she looked directly at the blonde girl sitting near the back of the class. 'Here,' Ramona replied trying to hide from the glare the teacher was shooting in her direction."


• Meeting at the Park (Iron Chef: Fresh takes on Veronica Morgendorffer), by Wassersauefer (COMPLETE!): "'Um... hi?' 'AAAH!!' Startled she jumped, her coke bottle falling and crashing onto the ground, glass and the beverage splattering in every direction. Her heart hammering and her breathing short she looked at the intruder that shocked her. 'Damn, was that necessary?'"


• Operation Glitterberries: Chapter 08, by BF110C4 (part 3): "Entering once more to the bathroom she could clearly see the path that the bullet took after missing her, going through the open door and the shower’s curtain, to embed itself on the wall. Just two inches down, or half a second more to aim... She was damn lucky."


• Revenge from the Grave (Iron Chef: Chateau de Morgendorffer), by Reven384 (COMPLETE!): "'I'm still a bit surprised mother left me anything. I figured she'd leave everything to Rita,' Helen said before bitterly adding, 'Then again she left Rita most of her possessions and money.'"


• Rude Awakening Ep 11: Sucks To Be Them!, by DIsaac (part 4): "STACY: So we will be putting our REAL plan in action as we speak.... Operation Wicked Witch. The plan is simple. We will be working throughout the day to ruin Mrs. Griffin's day in ways small to epic. The plan is to make her think Boston Sucks as a place to live and make her hate our fair city to the point that when she thinks of Boston.... She'll hate this place with every fiber of her being. It will mean that she will leave You, Tom and future child to be named later..... Alone and safe here in New England."



• Sexy Daria: Sexy Cute Models, by Shiva (part 6): "'Oh you're so slender and pouty,' Claude said in admiration of Daria Morgendorffer while Romonica’s eyes danced with thoughts of how much money she could make off this girl, 'And even those glasses are cute, but could you take them off please?' 'Oh ducky,' Daria replied very sweetly before her voice turned to ice, 'I need them to see scam artists.'"


• Slumber Party (Scenes no Daria Fanfic should ever have: Embrace the Madness), by JoeMerl (COMPLETE!): "As President of the Fashion Club, I declare that this meeting-slash-slumber party can official begin,' Sandi said. 'Now, what should we do first?"


• Unexpected Hookup: A Bigger Bite, by Shiva (COMPLETE!): "Jane continued and her voice grew more distant, 'As I saw the two of you together I... I became afraid.' Jane grew quiet after that, which forced Daria to ask, 'Afraid of what?' 'Of losing you Daria,' Jane replied sadly, 'You’re the only friend I’ve got.'"


• Unnamed story (IC: Sam Stack), by Shiva (COMPLETE!): "Sam sighed in post-coital bliss, his body exhausted but feeling completely satisfied after having the best sex he had ever had so far."


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Chateau de Morgendorffer), by RX-87 (COMPLETE!): "'Well, during the war, the cousin was roped into fighting under General Barksdale and got to meet his niece while on leave. Not long after that, she came down with TB and had to spend some time in a sanatorium. Just about the time her new baby brother, my great grandfather, was born...'"


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef - Let's Play Sports), by LadieT (COMPLETE!): "'Eight - ' the sound of slashing filled the air ' - make that nine. You just had to want to go to the London Games.' Jane said as the blood squirted from the now dismembered zombie body."


• A Wish for the Perfect Night (IC: Sam Stack), by OverlordMikey (COMPLETE!): "A rose was laid outside her door as always. She picked it up and sniffed it a little before putting it in her hair and gong inside. Code for meet you in an hour. He pulled his car up and she got in."

One Small Step for Jodie, One Long Run for Jane Lane

As Jodie Landon reminds us, 41 years ago the Eagle landed on the Moon. As Daria and Jane remind us, "See Jane Run" premiered on MTV 12 years ago. An important day in history, indeed. Today turns out to be critically important in one fanfic, as you will see. Yesterday will be an important day 17 years in the future according to another fanfic, as you will see.

The best part of "See Jane Run" was, of course, seeing Jane. Our Heroine (Jane) was magnificent, but her sidekick Daria was a wet blanket with her constant whining and acting sorry for herself and complaining about Jane doing something great. What heights could Jane have achieved had Daria not been such a pain in the butt? Alas, we will never know.

However, to commemorate the anniversary of "See Jane Run," you can download a PC screensaver that shows Jane running, saved from an MTV website by the WayBack Machine at Archive.org. Click on the link (an .exe file), save it, run it, be amazed. I adore this. The file (called "Run, Jane, Run" as a screensaver) was posted online about 10 years ago and works perfectly, with sun and moon and stars and everything! Jane sure can run a long time.

Moar l8r.

To the Moon

Forty years ago today, Apollo 11 landed on the Moon. I remember watching that live on TV. It was the greatest.

This is an interesting day in other ways. "See Jane Run" premiered eleven years ago today, one of my favorite episodes because OH is the star (Jane, of course). We learn that Daria is more dependent on Jane than Jane is on Daria, when Daria mumbles to herself: "Jane. On a school team. That's pathetic. Hey, if she's the pathetic one, why am I talking to myself? And, more importantly, why am I waiting for a reply?"

We also find the beginnings of the Barksdale Legs meme:

• Daria: What happened to your come-and-get-it heels?
• Quinn: Ha-ha, Daria. I decided I shouldn't wear shoes that kill me just because they make my legs look hot.
• Helen: Why, Quinn, how mature.
• Quinn: I mean, my legs look hot no matter what I wear. They'd probably even look good in those things you have on.
  

We do need a fanfic about Daria's new bf, Knuckles.

When Apollo Rose Into The Sky

Forty years ago, I stood in the front yard with the rest of my family and a transistor radio to watch Apollo 11 climb into the sky over Florida, beginning one of humanity's great adventures. Though I've watched many more Space Shuttle launches, the sight of a Saturn V is still more impressive and a memory I will long relish. I'm sure even Kevin would understand.

Here's to you, Neal, Buzz and Michael.

You can see lots of cool pictures at the Project Apollo Archive.

The only Daria fanfiction I can think of that includes the mission is Thea Zara and Deref's "All My Children" story, "The Moon in the Man."

Science Runs Amok

Three different science-based events occurred today in history, each of which had a marked effect on one of my science-fiction Daria fanfics. Weird how that came about.

Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 began to impact Jupiter on this day 14 years ago. This led to the events detailed in "And I on the Opposite Shore Will Be."

Apollo 11 began its journey moonward this very day 39 years ago. "Every Hour Saved from That Eternal Silence" came about as a result.

And atomic fire lit the earth for the first time ever 63 years ago today, with the Trinity nuclear test in New Mexico. This became the de facto birthday of the Atomic Age, and thus the "anti-holiday" of the Holiday Island High character Trinity, from "A Hard Days' Night."

More to come as the day rolls along. Happy Birthday, Trinity!