French Aliens from the Planet Earth!

Keep away from Tiffany because it's Extraterrestrial Abductions Day and the last thing you want is to be abducted by Tiffany. Not because of the alien thing but because she's just that annoying.

Oddly, it's also International Earth Day, so that's even more reason to not get abducted. Not that you needed more reasons, of course.

Assuming you do end up staying on Earth, today would be a good day to brush up on your foreign languages, as it's French Language Day! You could go to Chez Pierre to practice, or you could go just about anywhere else for a more authentic experience.

Fanfic Update!

• Breaking Balmora, by welltemperedclavier (part 9): "His face hidden in steam, and hot water up to his neck, Jeval tried to relax."


• Degrade, by FictionAuthorofFiction (COMPLETE!): "Daria felt herself freeze as her brain took in what she was hearing. Jane, her best friend, her only friend, was talking about her to the track kids."


• Purple Sweater, by Sheila Wisz Ellayn (parts 9 - 11): "It seemed to Quinn that John Astrella grew taller and even more attractive now that they were getting closer, Daria and Jane stared at them from a great distance, Stacy's heart began to beat a lot faster than normal and meanwhile John and Anna continued with their chat." (Part 10) (Part 11)

The Mystik Wow!

Only 33 years ago today, a peculiar signal was detected by The Big Ear, a giant radio telescope at Ohio State University. Now dubbed the Wow! Signal, the event has never been duplicated and its origin remains a mystery. Was it a message or unintended signal from a distant alien civilization? That question has never been properly answered.

This day has many historical connections with the Daria show. It marks the beginning of both Alternapalooza and Woodstock 1969 (see here, here, and here); is the anniversary day of many French events (Daria likes France and speaks French), and is Flooding of the Nile Day (doesn't have much to do with Daria, except for the alter ego at the link).

W8 4 moar. Back again. The fanfic list will have to wait a bit.

KN00Z!

• Richard Lobinske has updated the Big List o' 2010 Daria Visual Fanworks! Can't believe the wealth of stuff there.
• NEW! thatLONERchick has produced artwork of a famous, sort of, original character from Daria fanfic. I cannot take responsibility for your amazement and joy when viewing the images. No, seriously, I can't.
  

Vive le Brittany!

Today is Bastille Day, as Brittany so ably reminds all Francophiles, but it is also the 13th premiere anniversary of "The Teachings of Don Jake" and the 11th premiere anniversary of "Lane Miserables." Good stuff all around. I am not sure how we could celebrate all three of these events at once, but I am sure there will be found a way in this fandom.

PLUS, it is the 99th birthday anniversary for William Hanna, of Hanna-Barbera cartoons (now owned by Warner Brothers), and National Nude Day (sorry, no images—oh, fine, okay, just one image—click here).

Still running behind. Moar l8r. Okay, now it's l8r, and it's time for...

N00OoZ!

• An alert reader has pointed us toward another snarky Jezebel.com essay on Daria. I will collect these and add them to the Director4y at left before too long. Thank you!
• The Midwest DariaCon 2010 is One Month Away! Click on the link and make your travel plans.
• A DariaCon in Europe in October? Could be possible. Read and sign up, then get your tickets.
• NEW! C.E. Forman continues to thrill and amaze with his display of Daria collectibles. Oh, my kingdom for the life-size Jane RealDoll with the power drill! God bless America!
• NEW! Chris Tucker is still looking for air vents in Daria's room. No, seriously. Great thread.
  

And we will also attempt to fill out the extremely late list of Daria fanfiction, about three or four days overdue. My apologies for this tardiness. Keep checking in throughout the day as I add more stuff, and feel free to suggest or correct anything you see here. (All done now.)

FF.net (COMPLETE AT LAST!)

• College Wry, by LibertyxIsxLove (Part 4): Quinn cleared her throat. "So... er, we were gonna talk about Tiffany?" "Oh, right! You said she was in with a bad crowd or something?" Sandi was making an effort to be involved, but her eyelids were slowly drooping. "We don't know exactly," Quinn admitted. "But you know how it's been, she keeps not showing up when we make plans, and acts all secretive when we ask her about it. Plus, she started painting her nails gray." Stacy cringed and Sandi sighed, "I noticed that." She leaned in closer to Quinn. "The last time I was at her house, she had three bottles of Juicy perfume, and she hadn't opened any of them. They were just lying around like... like garbage!" "Those poor Juicy bottles!" Stacy grieved.
  
• The Daria Daze, by Kurt Dale (Parts 1 and 2): Daria could still taste the cheesy delight on her tongue as she lazily heaved her suitcase onto the bed. Her black, circular glasses falling to the edge of her nose, the usual sigh ensued. This was it. Daria was going to college, it was a chance to make new friends, stop being anti-social, have a real go at life. Daria's lip twitched at the thought that even she knew this wouldn't happen. Picking up a tattered, dog-eared copy of Jane Eyre and a demo tape made by Mystik Spiral, Daria wondered what would her new accommodation would be like, she imagined four walls, a perky blonde roommate, various undergarments strewn about the room, in her imagination she added some rough furniture and a computer. A drab visage. Daria liked the thought of a nice, normal, quiet dorm. Minus the blonde.
• The InDark, by Mediancat (Parts 26 and 27): Flattop had been looking for about forty-five minutes. It was an airport, so he was expecting this. He'd moved past the United Terminal and had to veer around a major scene – four beings, magic in some way, had killed themselves in the middle of things. All this security here meant there'd be less elsewhere. Good news for him. Still, he didn't breathe easy until he was past the dopes from security. Bunch of would-be flatfoots, the lot of them, but that didn't mean one of them might not see him and figure out something was going on. Up ahead, in the distance, he saw a dame that looked like his target. He kept her in sight but far enough back so she wouldn't catch wise. (Daria/ Buffy tVS/ Angel/ Dick Tracy)
  

PPMB

• Behind the Scenes in a Daria Fanfic, by Chris Tucker (COMPLETE!): "Yo, Daria, you in there?" A monotone mumble came from behind the bedroom door. "I'll take that as a yes." said Jane as she pushed open the door. "What's up, amiga... OHMYGOD! What happened to you? You look like crap on a crap cracker"! Jane was being kind. Daria, sitting on the side of her bed, looked exhausted. Her normally shiny auburn hair was lank and greasy and limp. She smelled bad. Her skin was pale and sweaty. A bucket was at her feet. "It was another fanfic, Jane." "Oh, dear lord! Was there... 'inappropriate touching'?"
• Crawly Things in the Night, by Ticknart (COMPLETE!): Dearest Friends (and others), From the ashes, like the phoenix of old, JaneCam rises again! With a new webcam and a domain all its own, this'll be the best JaneCam until the next version hits the web, after my first million. Until that time comes, tell your friends, and other people you've met at your fancy colleges, to come, visit, click, watch, enjoy, and pay me money. After all, you're my friends and if I can't exploit you and your connections to people I never have to, or want to, meet, what good are you? Jane Lane, Founder of the soon to be most popular site on the web!
• Daria/Dorian 4—Partner's Compromise, by LadieT (Part 4): arrived, Jodie was rubbing Mack's back as he buried his face in his hands. Jodie offered Dorian and Jane the other half of their booth. Mack looked up at them. "I would ask how your project is going but I have a strange feeling I already know the answer," Jane said before taking her first bite.
• Daria: Hunter 6—Infectious (continued): Daria bellowed anger and frustration as she clawed savagely at the elevator door with her blade. Long, deep scratches were left behind after every hit, but it was obvious even through the red haze over her vision that it would take hours to make any real progress, and by then the mono-edge would most likely be dulled down to the sharpness of a basic kitchen knife. She leaned back and gave the stubborn door one last solid kick, then stood huffing as she tried to calm herself down. "So that's it, then," she heard Mack say behind her. "We're dead."
• Finn Morgendorffer 53: Purely Magnetic, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 1): “Wow, I should come over here more often, Rebecca,” Doctor Cecil Aismuth remarked as he tastefully sipped the concoction in a martini glass. “Don’t get comfortable, you’re here for a reason,” Rebecca Crossan returned. “Mrs. Truesdale is one of the most influential women in this country, and she is an incurable nymphomaniac. I’m giving her quite a selection of man-meat to ogle over.” “Yeah, have I mentioned there is so much wrong with this. To start with, I have a girlfriend who is, in fact, here with us tonight. Second, even if her husband is not here, she’s married. Third, you’re also including your own brother in this display.”
  
• First Born, by RLobinske (Part 5): The old friends watched an old Sick, Sad World episode on a big-screen television in the living room. The announcer said, ” This is just astounding! Here you are, blind, deaf, and barely able to walk, yet you conducted simultaneous affairs with three members of the Royal Family!", followed by the same voice, slightly older, saying, "And the Royal Family must not be able to smell because he reeked!" Laughing, Jane said, "I love the commentary tracks on these DVDs."
  
• General Semantics, Private Angst, by Gwrtheyrn (continued): "There had been a plot to dispense with me," said 'X.' "That couldn't be tolerated, so I've had to take certain unpleasant steps." "You're talking," Jane rasped out, "but you're not saying much. Better make me happy, 'X.' You know I'd love to kill you." She kept the flashlight trained on the cripple's prone form. There was no need to narrow the distance between them. Jane was a very good shot, not that it mattered with a weapon such as the one she held. "I am not at all trying to deceive you, Jane," the horror replied, reasonably. "Whatever else happens, it is vital that I survive, if I am to protect the Solar System during the invasion, and preserve what can be preserved of the null-A way of life." The enormity of that claim almost took Jane's breath away, but she kept her aim steady. "So, then, who was that, in this very room, talking about murdering thirty million Martians?" (Daria/World of Null-A)
• The Hallowed Halls of Fielding, by Roentgen (Part 43): When Quinn Morgendorffer returned in January for her final week at home before the beginning of Spring Term, she expected that Jill Yardborough would be waiting there with a list of recriminations. Two days before her return to Lawndale, she was seriously dreading coming home and meeting Jill again. Quinn had already started work on her speech. ("Jill, she forced me into the car! I didn't mean to leave you behind! But it was my grandmother and she's lonely and she's missing a kidney and she's...!") Quinn never got started.
  
• Jane Lane, Ace Attorney: Turnabout Teacher's Pet, by LSauchelli (COMPLETE!): It had been two months since the Brittany case and Jane had yet to get first seat again. The whole time she had expected to meet with Daria to catch up on old times, or something, but she had not seen her since that day, at least not in person. The media went nuts with praise at the young and wise prosecutor who deduced the innocence of the cheerleader in a matter of minutes into the case. There was no mention of myself, not a one, Jane thought as she sniffed herself. I might need to buy some new deodorant or something. Perhaps that’s the trick to Daria’s success. (Daria/Ace Attorney game)
• Judith Strikes! A View from the Front Row, by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): There was silence in the unoccupied classroom. A blue light appeared in the back of the room, and coalesced into the form of a petite young woman, her face almost totally obscured by the red cloak she wore. The young woman reached back into the cloak, as if she were searching, when the door to the front of the classroom opened and a forty-something man, wearing blue slacks and a pinkish, button-down shirt, entered the room. The door closed behind him on its own several seconds after the man’s entrance, and he stood behind the desk as he turned to face the intruder.
• Life, But Not As You Know It, by Phoenix (Part 3): Elsie tapped her foot impatiently on the linoleum floor of the principal’s waiting room. The young secretary behind the desk shot Elsie a silent plea for her to cut it out. The secretary sighed, “Ms. Li will be with you shortly.” Elsie nodded. She was due to take the school tour and by the looks of it she was going to be the only student. A few short minutes later the intercom buzzed, and the secretary informed Elsie that Ms. Li was now available. As she entered the principal’s office, her eyes fell on the short, stocky woman sitting behind a large oak desk. Ms. Li gave a tight smile and ushered Elsie to take a seat. Once seated, Ms. Li gave Elsie an appraising look. “Elsie Sloane...” Ms. Li mused in an airy tone. Elsie’s brow stitched itself into a bemused frown. “Ms. Li?” (FF.net)
  
• A New Set of Rules, by Dennis (Part 15): Monday was a classical concert at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, which Bryce enjoyed more that Daria did, and Thursday, a pleasantly warm day, was a picnic on one of the greens followed by a long walk around campus and a not-quite-but-almost-public make out session that had Daria questioning her sanity. She mentioned it to Colleen the next day, but the redhead laughed off her concerns. “I don't see why this bothers you. So you made out with a guy somewhere that someone might have seen you.” “It's not the sort of thing I do,” Daria said stiffly.
• Politricks Are Not for Kids, by Brian Taylor (Part 6): We hear a mechanical revving, fierce and intractable. The door to Jane's office bursts back open to reveal Jane wearing a welder's mask and a rubber apron, clutching a revving chainsaw between gloved hands. [I would have added more, but there was too much win. Must read.]
• Raft College: The First Year, by rglovejoy (Part 16): Daria stood quietly outside Terminal E's security checkpoint. Jane's flight was supposed to have already arrived: it said so on the arrivals/departures monitor next to the Southwest Airlines ticket counters. She wanted to duck into the newsstand to relieve the boredom of waiting, but she didn't want to miss seeing her friend. Jane had called her during lunch, to tell her that Trent was driving her to BWI Airport and that her flight was supposed to get in around 5:30. It was now a little after six. Daria was very much looking forward to seeing her. It had been over a month since she last saw Jane. Although they often emailed each other and talked on the phone, it wasn't the same as being together. Daria was not the mushy sort, but she did miss Jane tremendously.
  
• Regifted 2: I Put Away Joyless Things, by Ajar (Part 9): “Oh, hi,” said Mr. O'Neill. “I'm sorry if I'm interrupting, but I thought you might want your papers back. Some of you are really improving. One more B-plus for you, Sandi. You've been on quite a roll the last few weeks. At this rate you might even break a B in the course. Good for you.” “What's with all the B-plusses all of a sudden?” asked Quinn as Mr. O'Neill moved on. “You're not the only one smart around here. Some of us just keep it to ourselves.” “But he said you only might get a B.” “You don't want to do too well. I mean you don't want to end up at that school where your sist—I mean, cousin goes.”
• That Infernal Nonsense, by Ajar (continued): "Sir, are you okay? The glaz-ed layering of moisture gleam, that covers all your eyeball proclaims a confusion more deep than normal; confide in me—fear not—you won't seem too dumb." "Yeah, Mack Daddy, er... bro, I just don't get it..."
  
• Three-Edged Sword, by NightGoblyn (Part 4): Daria sat alone in a small booth in the back of the restaurant, listening to the thumping music and breathing the mixed smells of cooking meat, spilled beer, and cigarette smoke. Her reverie was interrupted when a waitress approached, plunking a couple of baskets of chicken wings on the table followed by two tall, sweating glasses of beer. Tossing the tray onto a nearby empty table, the waitress then sat across from her. "Are you allowed to do that?" Daria asked. Sandi shrugged. "It's the end of my shift, I've already clocked out. Also, the manager here is very good to me."
• Unnamed story (Behind the Scenes in a Daria Fanfic), by Charles RB (COMPLETE!): "Personally, I think the attention to symbolism and superior mis en scene make the third Care Bear movie the best," said Judith, daintily sipping tea from a china cup. "But look," protested Tommy Sherman, "the story of the first was a primal archetype, Campbell himself—"
• Unnamed story (Behind the Scenes in a Daria Fanfic), by Dark Kuno (COMPLETE!): This is going to look really cute on Quinn later tonight, Stacy thought as she removed the dog color, folded the it and placed it into a small leather-bound case between the Italian leather riding crop, Gucci handcuffs with chinchilla fur lining and a length of fine silk rope.
• Unnamed story (Behind the Scenes in a Daria Fanfic), by rglovejoy (COMPLETE!): Sandi Griffin sat sulking in the back seat, while her parents talked quietly in the front. The only good thing about her family's visit with her Uncle Peter and the other Rhode Island Griffins was that it was over.
  
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Crossover the Pond), by Dennis (COMPLETE!): "Hello and welcome. We have with us today one of the country's leading teen clothing analysts, Sandi Griffin." "Like, that's not my name!" "I'm sorry. Sandi Gry-fin." "No, no. It's like spelled Sandi Gry-fin, but it's pronounced Cheddar Cheese Percolator." (Daria/Monty Python's Flying Circus)
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Crossover the Pond), by Greystar (COMPLETE!): "And now for something completely different..."(Daria/Monty Python's Flying Circus)
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Crossover the Pond), by Jim North (COMPLETE!): "Well, that was all good fun, and we all had a jolly good laugh, but I would like to assure you that you'd never be treated like that if you had an interview to be a girly lumberjack here at the Careers Advisory Board. Perhaps I should introduce myself. I am the Head of the Careers Advisory Board. I wanted to be a psychologist, but there we are. I'm Head of the Careers Advisory Board."(Daria/Monty Python's Flying Circus)
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Crossover the Pond), by Lord Akiyama (COMPLETE!): "No lasagna tonight for dinner? What's the occasion?" "You're father lost a client today." "I don't care that they found nine out of ten British housewives to say otherwise, I can tell the difference between Whizzo Butter and a dead crab. How can you market a thing like that? And what in the world was he talking about when he said that it also contained ten percent more less?"(Daria/Monty Python's Flying Circus)
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Crossover the Pond), by Raskolnikov (COMPLETE!): "Damn it!" "What's wrong, amiga?" "This stupid computer is crashing spontaneously again! It's the tenth time this morning!" "Oh, only that? I thought it was something important." "Ha, ha. Very funny. I hope you'll be as clever as you are now with my replacement, since I'm going most surely to be sacked if I can't deliver this before noon!" (Daria/The IT Crowd)
  
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Crossover the Pond), by rglovejoy (COMPLETE!): [Too short to sample!](Daria/The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin)
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Crossover the Pond), by rglovejoy (COMPLETE!): "Tom, I'll trade you this cockroach cluster for your anthrax ripple." (Daria/Monty Python's Flying Circus)
• Unnamed story (More Crossovers Not Yet Crossed Over), by Wraith (fragment): "Hey, Janet." "Yes, Skinny?" "I've got something to say." "Out with it." "I really love the... skillful way you beat the other girls to the bride's bouquet." (Daria/Rocky Horror Picture Show)
• Unnamed story (More Crossovers Not Yet Crossed Over), by Wraith (fragment): Daria attended the education sessions because she wanted to find out why so many people were working so hard to kill her. A handful of others were also interested, and the questions were many and good when Jodie and the subversive corporal finished and made the mistake of asking if there were any. "Who is Spain?” “Why is Hitler?” “When is right?” (Daria/Catch-22)
• The Vision of the Burning Cities, by jtranser (continued): "'Daria, am I going crazy?" "Stacy, let me check your test results. First, elevator mobility: definitely goes to all floors. Second, your skull X-rays: No detectable presence of strudel in noodle. Third, presence of mind: still there. So, the answer to your question is no." Stacy relaxed slightly, then her innate anxiety resurfaced, focusing on another medical predicament: "I swear if this continues, I'm going to have a heart attack!! I mean it feels like I have runaway tachycardia!!!" "I believe you lack a basic understanding of heart function, Stacy. See, the heart is like a cheap blood-filled squeeze toy that progressively decays as the foam rubber hardens, clogs up with crap, then begins to split." "Eeewww!!" "But, in your case, that hasn't happened. So no, no heart attack."
  
• The White Fox, by Lord Akiyama (Part 2): "Okay, Daria," she muttered to herself. This was in spite of the heavy breathing she was making. "Don't panic. There's nothing to worry about. This all just a dream. Just like Holiday Island. This is not real. It's just a dream." It was then that Daria tried to get up. Only to find that she couldn't. As a matter of fact, she could barely move at all. She looked to discover the reason for this. She was bound to a chair. Ropes tied to ensure that she remained in her seat at all times. Her legs tied to the legs of the chair, her hands tied from behind. The knots were of an advanced skill, thereby preventing her from even wiggling. [Contains mature content]
  

Spring Has Sprung! Fall Has Fell!

Lots of interesting tidbits for this day, so get ready. "The Story of D" premiered nine years ago today, midway through the fifth season of Daria. The episode's title was based upon the title of a famous pornographic novel, The Story of O, about which no more will be said here. Look it up on your own. "The Story of D" was embarrassing enough for Daria, who is at a low point when she goes over to Tom's house to blame him for her story being turned down by a magazine. The shame of it. The image at left is Daria's face when she realizes that she has been... (duh DUNNN)...

REJECTED!!!

Today is also the spring equinox, at 1:32 PM EST (adjust for your time zone). You may dance around the Maypole and throw flowers or whatever. It's *Spring*! (This holiday is applicable to the Northern Hemisphere only; it's the autumnal equinox below the equator, where everything is backwards.)

Because this is springtime, this day is also the Persian/Iranian new year's day, celebrated as such for the last 3,000 years; Ostara, a pagan holiday (Mabon in the Southern Hemisphere); Equinox Earth Day (some say it is the real Earth Day); a holiday I cannot pronounce in Japan, there for admiring nature; Chunfen in China; International Astrology Day; the International Day of the Francophonie (party hard if you speak French like Daria and Jodie); St. Cuthbert's Day (for Dungeons & Dragons game enthusiasts); Sham el-Nessim in Egypt; and (most importantly for this fandom) World Storytelling Day. The storytelling theme for this year is "light and shadow."

Oh, and it is also Extraterrestrial Abductions Day. Srsly. Poor Artie. Tiffany is the E.T. poster girl at right.

The downside is, a tragic event occurred six years ago today in one of the many Dariaverses out there. A sad and magnificent story.

Do you know of any other crossover appearances of characters from Daria besides those given here? If so, drop a note and the item will be added to DariaWiki.

ART!!!

• The Artist and The Burnout, a marvelous image of which Jim North says, "Nobody saw this coming." I sure didn't.
• The Hallowed Halls of Fielding, by Quiverwing. Miracles never cease!!!
• NEW! Quinn and Stacy from the Daria: Hunter series, by Jim North. Teh awesomeness!!!
• EVEN NEWER! Tom and a very pissed-off Andrea from Daria: Hunter! PAR-TAY!!!
  

PPMB

• Finn Morgendorffer 38: Fractures, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 1): “I understand if you’re weirded out. I mean, dating your buddy's ex doesn't jive with the dude code.” “The code is malleable. Us guys are nothing if not understanding of our buddies. You two are both my friends, and I care that your happy. If you’re happy and she’s happy, that’s all I’m concerned about.”
• Getting a Bye, by Disco316 (COMPLETE): Daria sat in her room, pondering how best to phrase her question for the first, and quite possibly last, test she’d ever have to give. As she finalized her test, a knock was heard at her door. She saved her work and called, “Chaos reigns within.” The door opened, revealing Sandi. She was wearing a very low-cut burgundy top with a black micro miniskirt. “Hello, Daria.” Daria looked around, unsure what to think of the scantily-clad Fashion Club president before her. “Um, I think you have the wrong room, Sandi.” “Oh, Daria, Quinn and your parents left for a movie,” said Sandi. “They won’t be back for a couple hours. This is between you and me.”
• Stacy Rowe, Seeker, by jtranser (continued): "As far as ThirdSight is concerned, you're just another predator trying to get in the game. And the only thing they haven't yet decided is what sort of cage to put you in."
• Uplinked, by Silver (COMPLETE!): Hiro: Cynic, this is insane. / RacheIsGod: All the more reason to go for it. / CynicalData: Shut up, please. I'm working. (Daria/Cyberpunk 2020 RPG)
  

How Daria Studies for French Tests

Animated hero Tintin is 91 years old today, but doesn't look a day over young-something. Daria Morgendorffer reads Tintin, according to The Daria Diaries ("Study for French test: Read Tintin comics"). That was stupid, wasn't it? Tintin's Belgian, so he speaks Belgian, not French! Daria's such a moron sometimes.

Historian Lord Acton was born this day 176 years ago. He is best known for his dictum about power and corruption, a saying that made its way into a Daria fanfic.

Another Good Reason to Go to France

Today marks a little-known holiday celebrated in the town of Palau-de-Cerdagne, France, on the border with Spain in the Pyrenees. Xicolatada (from an Aztec/Spanish word) is a festival in which the townspeople do nothing but drink hot chocolate all day, starting at 11 a.m. I know it sounds like I am lying (I'm not this time, I swear, honest!), but here is an article in French about it, and here is a picture. (I suppose if you are going to celebrate this day from now on, you should do it in style.) This kid is an exchange student worth getting to know at Holiday Island High!

Seventy-nine years ago today, the first-ever animated cartoon done with sound and shot in Technicolor was released: "Fiddlesticks." It can be seen in its entirety on YouTube. This of course led to Daria, today, and for that we honor it.

Singer/actress Madonna turns 51 today. Kemical Reaxion did a special series of Daria fan art based on Madonna's many incarnations. "The Ten Faces of Madonna" is a marvel to behold. We also have an official MTV alter ego of Brittany as Madonna, one of Helen as Madonna, one of Ms. Li as Madonna (as someone else), etc., so you see how important Madonna is to Daria fandom.

MOAR No0OZ!

• Updated versions of The Head and IIFY? Guy are ready for your inspection at Backgrounders.
  

FF.net

• The Request, by Quinnley1 (Parts 1 through 8): “Dar-ia! I hope you’re not planning on sleeping until noon every day during summer break. Time to get up and at least pretend that you are in training to be a productive member of society!”
• True Crud, by Pinkminx (Part 1): [The intriguing Daria/True Blood crossover found here on PPMB.]
  

PPMB

• Rolling the Dice, by Ajar (Part 3): “Hello again,” said Jane with false enthusiasm. “It's so nice for you to include me in all these Fashion Club meetings. But, at this point, you might want to change the name to the D20 Club.”
• Stacy Rowe, Seeker (Part II), by jtranser (COMPLETE!): According to the Maya, the tree Chacchokal has always existed and was there when the Maya first entered the forest of Chakur. In their belief system, this unique Ceiba tree connects the Heavens, Earth and the Underworld and binds them all together as the Universe of the Fifth Sun. [Now waiting for Part III!]
  
• Unnamed story (Crossovers Not Yet Crossed Over), by Richard Lobinske (Part 1): "Hi! You're cool. What's your name?" "Daria. Daria Morgendorffer." "Cool name." "Will you go out with me?"
  
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Daria Kills Jane, or Vice Versa...), by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): Jane felt the ringing in her ears clearing up, well enough for her to hear the chanting of the Lawndale residents...

As the French would say, Je ne sais quoi

Famed TV French chef Julia Child was born on this day, as was Napoleon Bonaparte, making this a very French sort of day in history. Helen Morgendorffer and Janet Barch will assist with the alter egos. Also on the French theme for the day, it is National Acadian Day in Canada, there is a French movie called 15 August (15 Août), and Nobel Prize-winner French guy Louis de Broglie was also born this day (though many years ago). If you are writing a Daria fanfic that makes use of quantum mechanics, throw in de Broglie's name and the story will sound super extra cool. Trust me on this. De Broglie invented the science of wave mechanics, which I won't pretend to understand, but his name is really all you need for your story especially if the story makes use of (get ready for this) Schrödinger's cat (handy illustration here).

The reason this has to do with Daria because in "College Bored" we learn that Daria wants to go to college in Paris.

As the French Chef would say, c'est la fin des haricots ("How the heck am I going to make chili now?").

N00Z: JPAGC has a PPMB question about the quantum existence or nonexistence of certain moms in Daria, if anyone can help him out.

Several characters at Backgrounders have been extensively updated: Tananda, Bib Overalls, V-neck, and Tank Top. Story ideas, anyone? Toss out a few in Comments. More characters to come this weekend.

PPMB

• Once More, With Sitting, by Richard Lobinske (Part 2): "I'll throw it in my car," Daria said. "That should hide the evidence." "You think of everything," Tad said.
  
• Two Halves, by Dark Kuno (Part 3): Daria sat at the head of her bed and read through the poetic endeavors committed to the paper within. Alex sat Indian-style in the center of the bed and perused a notebook of his own. The only sounds in the room were the turning of pages, synthesized gunfire and the occasional grunt-splat that marked another undead dispatched as Jane played Cannibal Fragfest on her friend’s computer.
• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Daria Kills Jane, or Vice Versa...), by Richard Lobinske (COMPLETE! plus extended story by others!): BANG!
  
• Unnamed story (Scenes No Daria Fanfic Should Have: Hump Day), by JPAGC (COMPLETE!): "Class, we have a new STUDENT! Daria Morgendorffer, please raise your hand."
• Unnamed story (Scenes That Should Be: Brains for Rent), by Doggieboy (COMPLETE!): Quinn Morgendorffer was shoved to the warehouse floor and cried out in pain from the impact. She cowered as the six men gathered around her. “Where’d you find her?” one man asked. “She was with some idiot who came to buy dope,” another man said.

New News That Doesn't Suck!

Wonderful, the kind of stuff you can dig up on the Internet.

On PPMB, Kara Wild just announced that an article about Daria on DVD appeared in the French magazine Télérama (July 15, 2009 issue). The French have christened Daria as l’antipom-pom girl, which I think is French for "outcast."

Not to be outdone, Kara has also posted a notice that PPMB can now be accessed using the thepaperpusher.com address, which she managed to acquire. HOORAY!

TEN YEARS AGO TODAY: Martin Pollard invented the term "anti-'shipper" in an essay for this fandom.

The guidelines for Daria chat using IRC have been revised. Click the link for more.

LAWNDALE ONLINE is lookin' pretty snazzy nowadays. Check it out.

The Daria Fan Club now has 1,349 members. Do it to it.

ART! ART! ART! Richard Lobinske has updated the 2009 Daria Visual Fanworks list.

Toonopedia's webpage for Daria has a yukky, out-of-focus picture from "Esteemsters." We should direct the webmaster to a nicer looking image.

I'm still updating fanfiction for today a few posts below this one. Discovered a previously unknown Daria crossover on FF.net. Gotta be more careful, hate to miss stuff.

TO DO LIST: I need to update the Big List o' Fanfic before the end of this month. I've missed updates for the last 10-12 weeks. Sorry, real life and all that.

Stay tuned.

Vive le fanfique!

Today is the Eiffel Tower's 119th birthday, as Casual French Sailor Mack reminds us. The very definition of machismo. I think that's a piece of straw in his mouth. Maybe a bent cigarette. Something like that.

Richard Lobinske's advice thread on PPMB, Preparing Simple HTML Files for Fan Fiction, groweth ever longer with the season. Lots of suggestions and help for writers wishing to spruce up the look of their fanfics.

More sharing of Daria fan art found on the Internet takes place at It came from the internet 2: The return of the revenge. Contributions and links welcome!

Update time!

PPMB

• Avalon, by legendeld (Parts 6 and 7): Avalon and Earth, at war.
• Daria d'Arc, by LSauchelli (Part 4): "God is an arrogant micromanager nut and the devil is a whiny drug dealer, who would've thought?"
• Falling Into College 61: Latitudes, by Richard Lobinske (COMPLETE!): The cruise ship comes home, but there was an iceberg to hit after all. Ouch.
• Legion of Lawndale Heroes - Thread II, by Brother Grimace: News update and teasers.
• The Misery Chick: Remembrance, by thatLONERchick (COMPLETE!): An alternate universe shocker you won't soon forget. And there's more to come.
• The Misery Chicks, by NightGoblyn (Parts 16 and 17): “Bitch made me spill my beer,” Andrea said. One of the truly great lines in fanfic, especially considering how the beer was spilled to begin with.
• My Sons, by legendeld (Parts 7 and 8): “Susan had a splinter and I was trying to get it out.” Yeah, Quinn, right, sure thing, got it.
• The Other Side Of Time: And All That We've Won, by The Sidhe (Part 5): “What was that about Western Mississippi?” “If you don’t mind, Amy, I’d rather not answer that at present.”
• Power Rangers: Lawndale Force, Episode 6, by cyke (COMPLETE!): "Everything’s sucked since I found this thing," said Penny, pulling a stone seal from her backpack.
• Size Does Matter, by BlackHole (Part 18): I said if before and I'll say it again: How kinky. (Unified version here.)
• Stacy Rowe, Seeker (Part II), by jtranser (continued): Bedtime stories and daytime stories. Intelligence is magic.
• Turnabout Confusion Part II: All The King's Horses, by Dennis (continued): Machiavelli is having a house party in Hell to celebrate this twisted tale. "Did you read this new part?" he's yelling at Satan. "This is so awesome!"
  
• A Very Bad "Drawn Together" Revenge Fic, All for You! by The Bog Man (COMPLETE!): The author lies. This is very, very good.

"I am lead to true bastard, oh not the question!"

So there was this French webpage about Daria, and I noticed it had a block of dialogue from the show, in French (as the French had dubbed it in, I assume). What would it look like if I had Google interpret it? I decided to find out.

Daria has gotten into Tom's car in "Dye! Dye! My Darling." Their conversation begins, translated from French back into English, with some French words left untranslated.

• Daria: You are ripe to talk about Jane?
• Tom: No
• Daria: Ah .. What then?
• Tom: In our situation ...
• Daria: I understand not c'que you mean! In what situation you want to talk about? And first let me go jm'en quiet!
• Tom: (retaining Daria) Wait ... Why everyone is angry with me?
• Daria: Why? Why? But because arriving in the city I knew directly that I would be a marginal, I had a coup d'Luckily, the only one of my entire life, I met another marginal which I became l 'friend and thanks to which I felt a lot less alone until the day you have yourself and you pointed bandana while in the air!
• Tom: For my part I simply found a nice girl with whom I went out for some time and was finally bored together is purely as banal story!
• Daria: Oh? And you would be bored in the same way if I had not been there?
• Tom: Probably! And I think she was tired the first I t'assure that it has nothing to do with you ...
• Daria: So much the better because you do not absolutely m'intéresses and I poignarderais my friend in the back if the idea m'effleurait.
• Tom: Yes, and I am lead to true bastard, oh not the question!
• Daria: Exactly ...
• Tom: Well it's done!
• Daria: It's settled!

Tom and Daria suddenly kiss.

• Daria: Oh shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!
• Tom: Mrs. .. I liked me too!
• Daria: It not only makes me laugh Tom
• Tom: But moi non plus

Daria Tom embraces a second time.

• Tom: That's not funny! .. In all, at all ..
• Daria: Should qu'j'y go!

Try reading this aloud to someone and see how it goes. Thank God I wasn't drinking anything when I first read it. More news later.

Dar Trek?

On my random poking around on the Internet, I discovered an old website with lots of alter-ego pictures showing Daria cast members wearing Star Trek outfits. It's called "Dar Trek" and is worth a look. (Tom as Captain Pike at right is from the MTV site, not the "Dar Trek" one.)

Roentgen, Vlademir1, and Brother Grimace have been hard at work adding new pages to the DariaWiki and updating older ones. All are welcome to join in the fun and broaden the information base for us all.

A fan from France, Pok, has translated "Jane Unchained" into French and posted it online. Have a look. (I can't read it. I have enough trouble just with English.) Important Note: Kemical Reaxion's fan art of Jane Lane as a pixie has moved to a new location; it is not at the URL shown in the story. I'll have to fix that, sorry.

More news later. Have a great Friday night.

The French Connection

Daria has a strong following in France, judging from the very large number of French-language websites about the show. (Have a look at left.) The show references France, the French language, French culture, French restaurants, and French fries numerous times. Daria even daydreams of being sent to a college in Paris (to teach!) in "College Bored." A PPMB Iron Chef competition from 2006 ("IRON CHEF: Parlez-vous Daria?") produced some interesting stories about Daria's French class, about which we know next to nothing except that she has one. Certainly more could be done with this theme in fanfic.

If Francophone readers know of other French-language Daria websites, please let us know here. The fandom suffered a great blow with the loss of Triste Monde Tragique (not the blog named at left) and CyberDaria (the follow-on site to the one named at left) several years ago. Those were wonderful. Alas, all gone now.

More world news later. Until then, enjoy your French fries.