Maybe Jane Still Has That Rollerball

I think that Daria is going to want to celebrate National Tattoo Removal Day now that she and Tom have broken up. On the bright side, now she can get a new tattoo, perhaps one from a magazine. I'm sure Trent has a few she could borrow for inspiration.

Given her pain tolerance (or lack thereof), Daria would probably rather observe Love Your Bookshop Day instead. Doesn't matter if it's a local used bookshop or Books By the Ton; if they sell books then she'll be happy!

Happy birthday to Doc Holliday, who was born on this day in 1851 and is significant to fandom because of his role in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Not to be confused with the O.K. to Cry Corral, which was probably far less appealing than being shot at by horse thieves.

Fandom News!

• R.I.P., Danielle Spencer.

Fiiiiiiiiiilm?

Tiffany's showing off one of the show's more obscure alter egos as director/screenwriter Lina Wertmüller, who was born on this day in 1928. I would hate to see any movie created by Tiffany, though. It would probably just be two straight hours of Tiffany staring into a mirror.

Today is also the anniversary of Doc Holliday's birth in 1851. Holliday is known for his role in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, but gets far less credit for his participation in the Okay to Cry Corral. I heard his lanyards sucked.

Fandom News!

• Discuss the movie Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan.


• Share your thoughts about season three of GLOW.


• Roentgen posted a new Iron Chef: Newly Employed in Other Media.


• What would you do in WildDogJJ's hypothetical situation?

Liiiiiights...Caaaaaamera...Aaaaaaaction!

Tiffany is wishing a happy birthday to Lina Wertmüller, who was born on this day in 1928. Wertmüller doesn't get directly referenced in the show, but Daria--as a fan of Italian director/screenwriters like Federico Fellini--would probably be interested.

Today is also the anniversary of the birth of Doc Holliday in 1851. Holliday is best known for his involvement in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, from which Mr. O'Neill got the name for his summer camp. I think that summer camp might have benefited from more shootouts and fewer inner child paintings. Doc Holliday also features in The Angst Guy's Death Takes a Holliday.

Fandom News!

• ognawk and Princess_Pasta have recorded a new Lawndale Lowdown podcast!


• Watch and discuss a video about the last remaining Howard Johnson's.


• Talk about the terrorist attack in Charlottesville.


• What do you think of the last Daria mention by the AV Club?

It's Okay to Cry, and It's Okay to...Draw!

On this day in 1881, the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral was fought between Frank McLaury, Tom McLaury, and Billy Clanton on one side and Morgan Earp, Virgil Earp, and Doc Holliday on the other. This happened more than a century before O'Neill came up with the O.K. to Cry Corral, and I think we can all agree that the camp would have been much more interesting if there'd been a shootout involved.

The Angst Guy crossed Doc Holliday over with Daria in Death Takes a Holliday, which is worth a read--especially for those interested in the Old West.

The PPMB is currently experiencing technical difficulties, but I'll post the fanfic update that I had as of last night. Obviously the links won't work until the board is back up, but when it does I will also add whatever I may have missed in the meantime. So...enjoy some fanfic fragments for now!

• The Author as a Lesbian, Season 3, by DeacBlue (part 3): "Daria was unsurprised when, later, the intercom said, 'Ms. Morgendorffer, Ms. Burns, and Ms. Lane report to the office after lunch.' All three girls looked at each other and shrugged. Once they entered the office, Ms. Li motioned from her door. 'Come in, ladies.' When they were all seated, she continued. 'I'm sure that you're all aware of why you're here today.' 'Actually, we're not,' Daria said in a dry tone."


• The Esteem of Haruhi Suzumiya, by Walter Kovacs (parts 3 and 4): "DeMartino gazed at Haruhi in a mix of despair and irritation. Then he turned to another student, a black-haired girl with azure eyes who was wearing a red jacket, a black shirt, grey shorts, black leggings. 'I have to apologize to you, Ms. Lane' 'Apologize for what?' 'I never thought I'd meet any students as irritatingly sarcastic as you or..' he turned his eyes to an oriental boy in a green T-shirt 'Your brother Kyon' He took a few deep breaths. 'But apparently the two Morgendorffer sisters are even worse.'" (Part 4)


• Five Minutes to Midnight - 11:56, by untra (parts 1 and 2): "Jane is real, I'm sure of it. Because right now there is glass on my lap and my adrenaline is racing again and the mild northeast wind brushes hair into my eyes, and somewhere down the line someone will have to pay for that side view window. The gun is a revolver of some kind, I think. I don't know much about guns, but I know it holds six bullets. And now it has five. I take a deep breath and squirm uncomfortably as I realize glass shards are getting into my skirt, are brushing against my legs." (Part 2)


• God Save The Esteem ep36: Occupational Hazard, by Charles RB (part 3): "'And then after the pitch, you say you want some fucking money. In those words.' Jake thought it over. 'Maybe say "bastard" again too, you may have to wing that one.' 'I see. And this has worked.' 'YES!' cheered the punks. 'Do you think this possibly might be because you are physically intimidating and the loan officer was afraid you'd hurt him if he turned you down?' 'Nah,' said Jake. 'I did a pie chart.'"


• In My World, by 45Ranger (parts 5/6): "'Well, Daria! As long as you have your hand raised... Last week we began a unit on westward expansion. Perhaps you feel it's unfair to be asked a question on your first day of class.' Daria quirked an eyebrow at this and fixed her gaze on the man. 'I doubt it would make a difference if I did. Ask away.' 'Daria, can you concisely and unemotionally sum up for us the doctrine of Manifest Destiny?' 'Concisely? Yes. Unemotionally? I can try.' Her voice dripped with sarcasm."


• Is It Halloween Yet?, by peapotmaster (part 1): "Meanwhile, at Lawndale High, the students are continuing to decorate the school for the Halloween dance this Saturday, and as usual it’s mandatory. 'Let me get this straight, Daria, you saw a ghost in your kitchen?' Jane Lane asked me. 'What’s next, Kevin will be dating Bigfoot?' 'I’m serious, Jane,' I replied. 'It couldn’t be Quinn, with her figure and all.'"


• Rocksteemsters (Scenes no Daria fanfic should have: Last Friday Night!), by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): "The cougar-skin topped vehicle sailed down the dirt road at an amazing 60 miles per hour, powered entirely by Jake Morgenboulder's racing feet. He managed to avoid the giant flying insects as he drove, and for a man born in an ancient era he was surprisingly able to hold a conversation."


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef - In the movies), by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): "JANE: Trent... (Trent smiles.) TRENT: Be sure and write - or whatever it is they do up there. (Daria starts the lift.) JANE: Daria! Daria, wait! (Daria stops the lift as Jane runs over, and steps upon the lift. Jane hugs her, and they both look upward as the lift starts up once more.)"


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef - In the movies), by Chris Tucker (COMPLETE!): "In the background, Angela Li's car explodes, with Li in it. Closeup on Inspector Morgendorffer's battered and bruised face. 'A girl's got to know her limitations.'"


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef - In the movies), by Grifter74 (COMPLETE!): "Daria lifted her Mother's sword once more as she pressed the wound, Count Schretcher the six-fingered man had given her with her other hand. With a wry smile, she said, 'Hello, my name is Daria Morgendorffer. You killed my mother! Prepare to die.'"

Mightier Than the Sword

The beloved episode "Cafe Disaffecto" aired for the first time 13 years ago today, when Daria was able to spark an anti-Communist riot in Lawndale by the power of her writing. "The Lost Girls" appeared 11 years ago today, in which Daria was able to bring the notorious Val (as in Val) to Lawndale by the power of her writing. Maybe today should be a holiday for accomplishing things by writing something, the power of the pen and all that. Only what gets accomplished isn't what you thought would happen.

What else... today is the 21st anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, which destroyed Alaska and western Canada, plus parts of Siberia, but on the positive side it gave us "Just Add Water," in Daria's third season.

This is the 45th birthday of the WWE wrestler known as The Undertaker, portrayed here by Jesse Moreno (wonder why MTV like this wrestler so much); the 109th birthday anniversary of Ub Iwerks, legendary animator and creator of Mickey Mouse; and the 136th birthday anniversary of Harry Houdini, whom Charles Ruttheimer III imitated so well in "Life in the Past Lane." Plus it is also World Tuberculosis Day, relevant to a certain fanfiction character, and Kick Butts Day, relevant because some of Daria's high school classmates and teachers smoke (e.g., Burnout Chick, Mr. DeMartino).

PPMB

• Finn Morgendorffer 38: Fractures, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 4): As Daria watched the three feuding Barksdale sisters continue their talk, she finally started to realize just what it was that was bothering her about this feud. It bothers me because it is stupid and pointless. But it’s also so familiar. Arguing over everything, nothing is sacred in a game of one-up. That’s not just Mom and her sisters. It’s me and Finn. That's... that's the future. And it... blows.
• NEW! The Hallowed Halls of Fielding, by Roentgen (Part 19): "Hell-oooooo!" The cry from upstairs was Helen Morgendorffer, bounding down stairs with Daria trailing behind her. "Elsie! Tom! Glad to see you again! Can I get you something to drink?" "Bourbon will be fine for me," said Tom with a smile. "Tom Collins, please," Daria said. "Nothing for me, if you don't mind," said Elsie. "I'm so close to my one month chip."
• Rocket Girls, by TAG (continued): “My mother wants meet you,” said Dora, searching in vain for the recently launched V-2. “She asks if you go to our house Saturday. She makes dinner.”
• NEW! Until You've Crossed, by Ticknart (COMPLETE!): Jane frowned. She really didn't want to do anything with Tom, but here she was. Maybe she could make an excuse and get away, see if Daria was up for pizza or a movie. More likely, though, Tom would want to tag along. She'd probably just end up sitting on her butt listening to the two of them go on and on about foreign films and the minute meanings as the movies move from reality to fantasy and back again and what the things in the fantasy mean. Jane could only sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" in her head so many times before she wanted to kill the other two and then herself. Daria was out of the question.
  

What Could Have Been

Forty-seven years ago today in an alternate Dariaverse, a dreadful thing happened. Good thing it wasn't our universe, but it could have been.

The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral occurred 128 years ago this date, leading to the Okay to Cry Corral in Is It Fall Yet? and a Daria fanfic featuring Doc Holliday.

N0oZ

• Another classic image series from Pinhead. This is really great!
• And yet another classic image, brand new, from Jim North: SLURP!
  
• Roentgen has sparked considerable debate on PPMB about the wealth rankings of Daria characters. Who's rich, and who's not? Comments always welcome.

PPMB

• Apocalyptic Daria: Scarlett's Tale, by Doggieboy (Part 12): The door to the stairway opened and three oriental men walked in the room. All three were dressed in uniforms of what was once called the North Vietnamese Army, and each carried an assault rifle, either of Russian or Chinese design.
• Don't Leave Anything to Chance, by Coonassblondie (Part 2): "I don't want to think about you screwing my friend. It's just wrong." "You shouldn't be concerned with who I'm screwing at all. That includes your friends!"
• John Lane 43: We're on a Mission, by Richard Lobinske (part 3): "You've got this all planned out. Quinn mentioned that Daria was spending the day at a spa with her and their mother. How did you pull that off?" "Manipulation, bribery and groveling. Oh, and I may need to score the deed to a small country."

Who's Who in the Dariaverse Today

We start with an alter ego of Tiffany Blum-Deckler as Lina Wertmüller, a famed Italian film director I had never heard of until a year and a half ago when I looked her up because I wanted to publish this image on the blog. I still have not seen any of Ms. Wertmüller's movies. Ms. Wertmüller was born on this day 83 years ago. I cannot find the original image from which this one was drawn, but perhaps there wasn't one. Still an excellent outfit for the Tiff.

Also born today: Gary Larson, beloved cartoonist (The Far Side) and Old West gunfighter Doc Holliday, who appeared in a Daria fanfic. My favorite Far Side panel was (of course) "Roger Screws Up."

Moar l8r. Back again.

UU and I are working on the Backgrounders website again. You are invited to look in and see which characters are in the process of getting makeovers.

Silver has collected the continuing M4 story series into one thread on PPMB.

PPMB

• Stacy Rowe, Seeker (Part II), by jtranser (continued): Under normal circumstances, her dates back on Earth had their brains fried by orgasmic recoil from her biocongruency with the ship. It was nice to know that her date wasn't just like most guys.

Holliday's Holiday

Only 157 years ago today, Doctor John Henry "Doc" Holliday was born. After an all-too-short life of gambling, drinking, and shooting people, he became the star of a Daria fanfic.

More later, hope to update fanfic list again by this weekend.

LATER: A funny thing happened while I was writing out the entry for zombiefic on DariaWiki: I ran out of things to say. Duh. If anyone wants to add stuff to that page, go for it. I've run dry. I didn't even write that much! Anyway, party on.