No Foolin'!

Mr. O'Neill looks especially foolish today for April Fool’s Day, and for him that's really saying something. Remember not to believe anything you see or hear today...even from me. Ha! Paradox!

Hey, remember that day nineteen years ago when all those objects came to life and took over our civilization? That was sure a crazy day, wasn't it? Good times.

If you'd like to mark the occasion with a physical memento, you could also celebrate National Greeting Card Day by sending someone a heartfelt message. Just don't make the same mistake Stacy did and give away any free poems!

Fanfic Update!

• Spider Quinn 21 A View of Oakwood and Ruins, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 1): "Quinn Morgendorffer was driving to Oakwood with Joey Green through the forest."

I Pity the (April) Fool!

Mr. O'Neill looks even more foolish than usual for April Fool’s Day, and I can't think of anyone more worthy of the day. Remember to watch out for pranks and don't believe anything you read on the internet!

This would have been good advice for Jesse, who probably thought Jane's theory about objects taking over civilization on this day in 2007 was serious. Then again, I suppose with the rise of artificial intelligence, we probably shouldn't count it out yet.

In any case, feel free to send a card to a friend for National Greeting Card Day, a holiday that was absolutely guaranteed to have been invented by greeting card companies. Hey...what if the greeting cards are the objects that intend to take over the world? Run! Run for your lives!

Fandom News!

• R.I.P., Louis Gossett, Jr..

Have a Fun and Foolish Day!

Mr. O'Neill thinks that, as Mr. T., he is pitying the fools on April Fool's Day. However, the rest of us know that the joke is on him, because he is the most foolish fool of them all!

Speaking of which, it was on this day sixteen years ago that all those objects came to life and took over our civilization. I mean, I assume that's what happened because Jane said so, and I'm not going to call her a liar.

Whether you celebrate today with pranks, pitying fools, or defending our way of life from the toaster, be sure to enjoy yourself because it's National Fun Day! Except for Daria, who has previously emphasized her anti-fun stance.

Fanfic Update!

• Breaking Balmora, by welltemperedclavier (COMPLETE!): "Jeval had no idea what that meant. But Treads seemed to." (Part 15) (Epilogue)


• Pregnant Prank, by wilddogjj (COMPLETE!): "Jim was sitting up in bed while Quinn was in the closet changing into her sleepwear."


• Quinn's Code 16: The Geek's Expose, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 7): "The group arrived back at the Morgendorffers twelve hours after they had left. 'And so, we're back,' Quinn said dramatically. 'The day is almost over.'"

April Fool...and May...and June...and July....

I can't think of anyone more appropriate to play the fool for April Fools' Day than O'Neill, although it would be nice if he could be just a little less clueless on the other 364 days of the year. Just remember: don't believe anything anyone tells you today. Except for that part about not believing things people tell you. You can believe that.

Hey, remember when all of our possessions rose up in revolt against us and overthrew civilization as we knew it? Good times.

Fandom News!

• cfardell_Brenorenz29 posted a new Iron Chef: Turning 40.


• Dervish wonders about those who give awards.


• What is the biggest non Daria influence on your Daria fanfics?

The King of Jibber Jabber

Mr. O'Neill is the perfect person for today's April Fool's Day post, especially because the joke is on him: he thinks he pities the fools, but he's the real fool and no one pities him at all.

Normally I'd remind everyone that we're still waiting on that takeover by our material possessions that was supposed to occur on this day in 2007 (according to Jane), but when I think about smart devices, self-driving cars, and internet bots, I'm not so sure it hasn't happened after all.

Finally, happy Easter to everyone who celebrates it!

Fandom News!

• WildDogJJ shares his grandmother's Sauce alla Napolitano recipe.


• Get into the spirit of April Fool's Day with the April Fools' Day joke thread!


• Why keep us around, wonders WildDogJJ.


• Share Daria-like songs or singers who sound like Daria.


• Meester_Lee ponders the idea of Brittany as a late-blooming witch.


• Robyn posted a new Iron Chef in Creative Writing: 1980's Daria.

I Don't Pity This Fool

I can't think of anyone more appropriate to wish everyone a happy April Fool's Day than the biggest fool at Lawndale High, Mr. O'Neill. I have to say, the look is very fitting. Just remember not to believe anything anyone tells you today. Except for what I just told you.

We're still all waiting on that inanimate objects uprising Jane predicted, but I'm starting to think we're safe after all. Unless that's what they want us to think...!

Fanfic Update!

• Beat It, by metameric1 (part 4): "Trent finished stringing up his guitar- he had traded in his old Telecaster when a Gibson 335 semi-hollowbody showed up on consignment at work."


• Community of Creativity, by LadieTAG (part 1): "Daria entered the building that housed her magazine's offices. The security guard and secretary both acknowledged her existence without trying to stare."


• Cynic and a Six-String, by fringeperson (part 7): "'Hello! Quinn's cousin or something!' a girl called down the hall. Daria and Jane turned, and recognised Sandi Griffin, president of the Fashion Club, waving to them and holding the arm of another girl in her hand."


• Doctor Who: Ways Clara Oswald ..., by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 2): "The Doctor looked as Clara walked down the Street. 'Let me be brave,' she said."


• Perception, by Princess_Pasta (part 6): "The air surrounding the small booth at the back of Pizza King was thick and fraught with tension. Tom Sloane sat stiffly in the green vinyl seat, absently picking pepperonis and olives off of his slice of pizza so he didn't have to make eye contact with the person sitting across from him."


• Run Jodie Run, by DIsaac (part 6): "JODIE LANDON: By a vote of 13-0, The vote to impeach Joe Edwards has passed by the required 3/5 majority needed by the state of Maryland. As by the vote here today, the 11th of March, 2016 AD. Joseph P. Edwards is hereby no longer the mayor of Lawndale."


• Unnamed story (Scenes that should be: Pacific Rimmers), by Szcz (part 1): "Some bikers said after Altamonte that a man called himself Jakob pleased them to return his money. He speaks with the soft German accent. They did it after three broken hands and one broken nose. They also said that they never want to see him again, even in a court."

April Fool!

Aunt Amy is in a silly mood for April Fool's Day, the day when you cannot trust anything anyone says to you, under any circumstances. Including me. Bwa-ha-ha-ha!

So, remember back on this day in 2007 when all the inanimate objects in the world came to life and plotted their secret takeover? Good thing Jane Lane was able to warn us ahead of time.

Fandom News!

• Share your local news and events in the "round my way" thread.


• neonhomer has a question about DeMartino and military service.


• peapotmaster posted a new Deadliest Warrior: Teen Titans Vs TMNT Vs Young Justice.


• Answer dmsfanman's video challenge in The Easel.

No Foolin'!

It's April Fools' Day! That's the day when everyone should be careful to distrust absolutely everything anyone says, no matter what. Except me. You can trust me. Here, take this perfectly ordinary box of candy and open it up. Surely there will be no surprises there!

Heh. Anyway, today is also the fifth anniversary of the Great Inanimate Object Takeover as described by Jane Lane in "That Was Then, This is Dumb": "...while we're asleep, those objects come to life and plot their secret take over of our civilization. April 1st, 2007. That's the day they make their move!" Man, that revolution went so seamlessly, I didn't even notice a difference!

For your April Fools' Day entertainment, allow me to present you with these fanfics:

• April Showers by The Angst Guy


• I Meant to Do That by Richard Lobinske


• Assorted entries in an Iron Chef posted by Angelinhel

And if that wasn't enough for you, let me also share this April Fools' Day fanart created by SRA. Enjoy!

April Fool!

It's April Fool's Day, the day when you absolutely cannot believe a word anyone says to you for twenty-four hours.

Except for me, of course. I would never lie to you.

In unrelated news, I will be charging people to read this blog starting...now. The cost will be fifty dollars per word, and I have set up a tab for each and every one of you. And don't think you can get away; I'm a librarian. We're everywhere.

I know of at least one fanfic that takes place on April Fool's Day, I Meant to Do That by Richard Lobinske, but didn't unearth any others. If I missed them, please let me know in the comments and I'll be happy to add them.

Any Rickroll attempts, however, will be responded to with swift and terrible retribution. (shakes fist)

SRA did once provide April Fool's Day fanart for this very blog. Er...brace yourself before you look, though.

Brainy Quinn's Breakthrough Day

Eleven years ago today, Kara Wild completed the first story in her grand epic, the Driven Wild Universe. That first tale was "Rose-Colored Lenses," in which Quinn Morgendorffer is forced to get corrective glasses (see "new" Quinn at right) and sets off a magnificent trope-busting saga. Congratulations to Kara, and thank you!

In a delayed April Fools prank, the BBC announced 80 years ago today in the evening that there was "no news" to report. Imagine hearing that!

Actor and poker player James Woods, said to bear an amazing resemblance to Lawndale lawyer Jim Vitale (per Scissors MacGillicutty), turns 63 today. Best not to confuse Mr. Vitale with James Woods as he appears on Family Guy, which also features a high school named for Mr. Woods.

PPMB

• Daria Race War, by Bliss Ticks (continued): The clock struck midnight, and yesterday marked the last day of exile for Jane Lane. Tomorrow morning she would meet Daria in front of her house, and together they would walk into that hellhole, Lawndale High.
  
• The Dream of the White Darkness, by jtranser (continued): "This is where something jumps out of nowhere, screams 'Booga Booga!!' and scares the shit out of me." Daria's nervous attempt at humor met with silence, then a very faint reedy voice coming from under the stairs said: "No. That comes later."
• DVDaria, by Admonisher (COMPLETE!): [Originally posted 3/31/01 on FF.net, this classic now appears only on PPMB. Enjoy!]
• Finn Morgendorffer 43: A Tale of Three Schrecters, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 1): “Good morning, Finn,” Helen spoke warmly to him. “What a lovely day.” “I don’t plan on wasting it,” Finn returned. “I’ve already made plans.” “That’s wonderful, Finn. Have a lovely time, Finn. But, speaking of plans, have you thought of what you’re going to do with your summer?”
• The Hallowed Halls of Fielding, by Roentgen (Part 24a): "When was the last time I was in Maynard Hall?" Tom asked himself. "Yeah, I remember. Fifth grade music. I remember a song that went 'solar plexus meow meow meow'. That's the sum total of my learning." "What did you learn?" Daria asked. "That I couldn't sing," Tom said. "Oh, Thomas!" cried Elsie. "I've been telling you that for years." (NEW! Part 24b: "So, Quinn?" said Pat Seven. "Do you want to see our little wooden boat?")
  
• Library Phoenix, by SigDiff (continued): Jane stayed up halfway through the night listening to Daria talk about her plans. To her, it sounded like complete fantasy. Flying machines that could outrun their own sound, other machines that could do math by themselves. Light with no flame, powered by the wind and the sun and something called the atom, which apparently the ocean had plenty of. Devices that allowed one to talk to another miles and miles away as if they were just a few feet away. Jane didn't believe a bit of it. At least, she didn't believe it until the demonstration.
• NEW! Shining Star: Temporal Conundrum, by RLobinske (Part 6): BEGIN EMERGENCY TRANSMISSION: Central Database security has been compromised. Intruder identity is currently unknown. Extent of breach is currently unknown. Breach has been identified as the personal computer issued to former field agent Ian Llwyd. Unrecovered computers from his team are considered suspected alternate breach sites. Containment protocols have been initiated. Access of data to field units may be restricted until full security is restored. You are instructed to use your current assignment to investigate this breach and provide any assistance in identifying the perpetrator.
  
• Springtime for Self-Esteem, by Ajar (Part 1): “It's always a pleasure,” said Ms. Li as she ushered a woman out of her office. “Well, the Mental Health Society always appreciates any principal that takes initiatives to help those dealing with mental health issues. Although I really was hoping to meet some of the support group.” “I wouldn't want to take them out of class, or expose you to their reformist delusions.”

Moar Aprl Phule N00Z!!11!!111!

This post will fill up as the day goes on, so check back when possible.

Brother Grimace just reminded me of a little prank he pulled a year ago that almost sent me into Intensive Care. Such a booger. Very glad he's still around because I'm going to drop carnivorous ants in his pants at some undefined point in the future. Love you, man!

Richard Lobinske has just announced that he is going to rewrite his epic Falling into College series with all of the Daria characters as undead flesh-eating ghouls, as per the recent Pride and Prejudice and Zombies novel. Not to be outdone, Roentgen and Brother Grimace announced they were going to rewrite the entire Legion of Lawndale Heroes epic in the same manner, then were stunned to discover that Kristen Bealer had already done so. Rumor is that the dispute will be settled by dance-off instead of arm-wrestling, once it became known that Kristen could bench-press 400 lbs.

Kara Wild has left Daria fandom to write My Little Pony slashfic. Probably for the best.

smk has announced she is changing her name to SMK because of problems with her spell-checker.

Australian Daria fans are being asked to have their fanfiction and fan art appear upside down on the Internet in order to allow fans in the northern hemisphere to view their work in the correct perspective. So far no one has complained.

PPMB updates on the 4/1 situation may be found here.

ALERT! Angelinhel has started an April Fool's Day Iron Chef on PPMB! Go and see!

N00Z UPDAT!!!

• Jim North has cooties. Ugly ones. Click here and see.
  
• South American and South African Daria fans have asked whether they, too, should turn their fanworks upside down for the benefit of those of a northern hemisphere persuasion. They have been told no, this is an April Fool joke on Australia, but they objected so much to being left out that they too are now mandated to turn their fanworks upside down.
• Jim North's cooties have destroyed New Jersey. Details on these and other stories at twenty past the hour.
• Liz Ruiz wants moobs.
• PPMB is in mourning now that the last man-whore in North America is retiring.
• A link to artwork for Kara Wild's first My Little Pony porn novel has been posted above. NSFW or anything else. But you'll click it anyway. You know you will.
• Anne D. Bernstein has posted new artwork. This is not actually an April Fool thing, but enjoy it anyway.
• Jim North's cooties are now on strike and demanding a dental plan.
• NEW! Here is a review of Daria 2: The Curse of the Misery Chick, which came out last year. See if you agree with the reviewer.
  

Stay tuned for further updates. You may of course add your own news updates to Comments below.

A Little Song, A Little Dance, A Little Wedgie in Your Pants

Happy April Fool's Day to you all. Jesters are the logos and mascots for the day.

This blog has popped a couple or two 4/1 stunts in the past. It's amazing how many April Fool's stunts have been pulled on the Internet as a whole, including:

• April Fool's Day RFC
• Fossil Fool's Day (not such an April Fool thing)
• Pigasus Award
• Edible Book Festival
• Google's Hoaxes

This day has at least one website devoted to it, though I am partial to the Museum of Hoaxes and especially to one of the best prank-busters of all time, Snopes.com. Well worth a look for your enlightenment.

I'd still like to know what April Fool's Day is like at Holiday Island High, whether a prankster or some ironic twist on the same.Only one Daria fanfic I can find is actually attuned to April Fool's Day, that being Richard Lobinske's "I Meant to Do That." I did find a nice Liliane Grenier artwork of Trent as a court jester on Outpost Daria, but no other jesters.

It's been three years to this day since all the appliances on Earth took over and enslaved humanity. You'd think someone would notice.

Would Mack Mackenzie make a good businessman? What kind of business would he be in? Add your comments to the thread!

The supervillain named Valwire has been captured... in Jim North's artwork! Excellent!

The above item appears here. An old collectible. Darn.

FF.net

• Apocalyptic Daria: Scarlett's Tale, by Doggieboy (COMPLETE!): [Previously appeared on PPMB.]
• Dying on the Inside, by Minx (COMPLETE!): [Previously appeared on PPMB.]
• Mata Dari, by Dennis (COMPLETE!): [Previously appeared on PPMB.] (OD)
  
• A Night of Bells (But No Whistles), by Doggieboy (COMPLETE!): [Previously appeared on PPMB.]
• Shieldmaiden, by RLobinske (COMPLETE!): [Previously appeared on PPMB.]
• Storytime, by Doggieboy (COMPLETE!): [Previously appeared on PPMB.]

PPMB

• NEW! Falling into College: The Clip Show, by Richard Lobnske (Part 1): "Hi, I’m your host, Karen Myerson. Right here in front of Fenderson Hall, what seems like the best place to start our show."
  
• Finn Morgendorffer 40: Higher Learning, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 4): Fantastic. Now all we need is a flat tire, Daria thought. It didn’t come to pass when she thought it, not like the TV shows. But this was bad enough on its own.
• NEW! Fragments of an Unnamed Tale, by Staticblast (Part 1): "It has been eight years now, since my family left the south to move here, and seven-and-a-half since I became fast friends with the artist, Jane Lane. My father was, and still is, considered strange by the community for having me tutored at home, and insane for doing the same for her. As you know, she has been both reviled and praised for her illustrations and paintings of the contents of the seven cryptical books of Hsan, named a genius and claimed to be in need of an alienist." [Part 2 here!]
  
• John Lane 45: Haunted by the Past, by RLobinske (COMPLETE!): "The girls of Lawndale owe you big time, Daria," Quinn said before hurrying away.
• NEW! (Semi)Permanent Reminder, by thatLONERchick (COMPLETE!): Daria awoke in a semi-dark room, the morning air cool and still. After a good stretch she moved the sheet off her legs and stood. She wore a thin white sports bra and boy shorts, which she straightened as she walked to the bathroom. On the door was a sheet of white paper, a message printed across the center of the page: LOCK THE DOOR
  

A Few Late-in-the-Day Notes

Some last new fanfic bits....

FF.net

• John Lane 39: Leaving Summer, by Richard Lobinske (COMPLETE!): Daria and John finish up their time at camp, and Quinn finishes up at hers.

PPMB

• Daylight: Falling From Grace: I Should Have Been Home Yesterday, by Disco316 (Part 3): Just then, a man on a horse appeared in the distance. [Damn it! Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, DAMN it!]
• Turnabout Confusion Part II: All The King's Horses, by Dennis (continued): It took Jen a couple of minutes to get her slice, and she spent them wondering how she found herself here, waiting to have a heart to heart with Quinn Morgendorffer of all people. Eavesdropped on one monologue... Who knew there was a brain and a wicked sense of humor under all that bouncy hair? But is she still the same old Quinn? Did I even know the same old Quinn? She sighed, took her slice, and went to sit down.

April First Rolls On

This page is reserved for fandom updates after I get home. Assuming I get home on time. You know how it goes. Here is Daria in a blue jacket. Looks weird. Stay tuned.

L8R: Okay, I'm home. Oy, what a day. Moar shortly.

MDetector5 has posted a page of sketches of Brittany Taylor, about which only one thing can be said.

Roxanne M has put forth a challenge to create a Daria/The Graduate crossover. Go forth and sin abundantly.

SURPRISE!!!

Daria.
Jane.
Quinn.
Kevin.
Brittany.
Upchuck.

Thanks, SRA. u R0ol, dude!

Artwork ©2009 SRA

Daria Returns . . . to the BBC!

A new live-action Daria show will soon appear on the BBC!

For details, click HERE!













Okay, okay, it was just a joke. Don't get your shorts in a wad. It was an old joke, in fact, one that I found using Archive.org's WayBack Machine. I saw it on PPMB ages ago, too. Here are some other good spots on Is this really Daria Morgendorffer? (an old website no longer in operation).

• Daria's Dream
• Oh my God it's Christmas
• Saint Daria — The Miracle of the Halo
• Church of Daria

It took a mighty sick sense of humor to come up with these. Someone after my own heart.

All seriousness aside, I've been looking through the "Blasts from the past" section at left (way down near the bottom) and am exploring some extinct websites. Amazing stuff there. I've always regretted that I missed almost the entire run of the show and all of the fandom until April 2002, when I finally joined in. Feel kinda stupid about it now, but what can you do.

So, exploring old fandom sites is my thing now. I've found Katherine Goodman's Daria portfolio, four different versions of Lawndale Commons, and some intriguing artwork. The holy grail would be to get the original "Planet Daria" site, but there's some kind of screw-up preventing it from showing up on the WayBack Machine. If you want to try it, the old link was:

http://www.geocities.com/~planetdaria

Using the WayBack Machine, you can get only one hit from 1999: here. But clicking on the link says the site redirects to itself, which the Archive.org people say they can fix, but I've e-mailed them and they haven't gotten around to it. Oh, well.

More news on my time-traveling later. Enjoy your day, and don't get fooled. Too much.