Maybe He Could Have Someone Cut Him in Half?

Upchuck seems ready to recreate one of Harry Houdini's stunts in honor of the anniversary of the illusionist's birth on this day in 1874. However, it won't be quite the same because when Houdini reappeared after disappearing, audiences were happy. Upchuck? Not so much.

Jake, meanwhile, will be happy to know that it's National Cocktail Day and he can feel free to indulge in a martini if he wants. I don't think he should have any sake, though...it might bring back bad memories of Tokyo Toby's.

Today is a double anniversary for the episodes "Cafe Disaffecto" in 1997 and "The Lost Girls" in 1999. Daria's writing skills excelled in both; in the first she managed to start an anti-Communist riot while in the second she was "rewarded" for her essay skills with a visit from Val. As in Val. It's a wonder she ever picked up a pen again.

Fanfic Update!

• Adventures Together, by elle_stone (COMPLETE!): "'So when are you taking me to the UFO convention?' Jane asks as they turn onto Howard."


• The Operation, by DrT (COMPLETE!): "'So,' the nurse stated in as soothing a voice as possible, 'put your clothes into this bag and then put on the socks and gown. We’ll be in to hook up the IVs and finish the prep in a few minutes.'"


• Points of Authority, by hitthefl00r (part 3): "The three of you stood on the doorstep of Lane house, attempting to convince Daria. She didn’t even turn, just rolled her eyes."

Jaken, Not Stirred

Jake's just thrilled to celebrate National Cocktail Day, although I'm pretty sure this is how he spends every evening. Still, I'm not going to try to take away one of his few remaining pleasures in life, so enjoy that martini, Jake!

I think Jodie should get one too, but not because it's International Day For Achievers. See, she's not an achiever; she's an over-achiever so someone needs to mix her a drink both as consolation and to keep her from exploding out of stress.

Today is also the anniversary of both "Cafe Disaffecto" in 1997 and "The Lost Girls" in 1999. One of us introduced us to Daria's fictional character Melody Powers and the other gave us Val (as in Val). I think I know who I'd rather spend time with.

Fandom News!

• Vote in the Celebrity Deathmatch poll between Perry Mason and Ben Matlock.

Let's Go Achieve a Drink!

Sorry, Jodie, but today is the International Day For Achievers, and you don't qualify. Check back when it's the International Day For Over-Achievers, okay?

Instead, why not kick back and enjoy National Cocktail Day instead? I'm sure Jake will, as long as the martini ingredients hold out.

Today is also the anniversary of "Cafe Disaffecto" and "The Lost Girls," which aired on this day in 1998 and 1999. Both episodes featured Daria's writing producing unexpected consequences: a riot in one, and a visit from Val in the other. You decide which was worse!

Fanfic Update!

• Breaking Balmora, by welltemperedclavier (parts 10 - 12): "Jeval went over to Quinn’s house after the thing with Tiphannia. She’d just gotten home from the Portollos, and even though she’d done her best to look perfect, he could tell something was bothering her." (Part 11) (Part 12)


• Daria Enrolls at Nevermore, by Meester_Lee (part 5.2): "'So what do we do now?' said Enid. 'Find out where the entrance is,' Daria replied. 'Get our stuff.'"


• Purple Sweater, by Sheila Wisz Ellayn (parts 12 - 15): "It seemed that Daria and Jane were going to love the Woodslack experience after all!" (Part 13) (Part 14) (Part 15)

Ta-Daaaaaaaa!

Happy birthday to the late illusionist Harry Houdini, born on this day in 1874! Upchuck's paying homage, but I don't think Houdini went in for such flashy outfits. Also, when Houdini did his death-defying stunts the audience was hoping for his survival. Not so much for Upchuck.

Today is also an anniversary for both episodes "Cafe Disaffecto" in 1997 and "The Lost Girls" in 1999. Both episodes involve Mr. O'Neill forcing Daria to do something she really doesn't want to do, which ultimately leads to Daria instigating chaos. He never actually learns, does he?

Fandom News!

• Linnofthewoods remembers "Twist of Fate" by Kayla Jones.


• Post your memes in a new thread.


• Share your experiences and vote in the Coronavirus poll.


• Meester_Lee wonders about Daria and firearms.


• What if PBS was Libertarian? Watch the video and find out!

"Shazam!"

Upchuck's brushing off the old magic act for the anniversary of Harry Houdini's birth on this day in 1874. I don't think Upchuck's quite got Houdini's skills, but I expect they do have a few things in common. For example, both probably know what it's like to get punched in the stomach and both are used to having people ask them to disappear.

Today is also the anniversary of both "Cafe Disaffecto" and The Lost Girls," which aired on this day in 1997 and 1999. The former introduced us to Melody Powers and the latter gave us Val (as in Val). I know which one I prefer.

Fandom News!

• Discuss the possibilities of Daria characters being involved with Quiz Bowl.


• Tell everyone about things you've never done or crazy things you have done.


• What were Helen and Jake thinking when they settled in Highland? Share your thoughts.


• Who would win in fights between Hera Syndula and Poe Dameron, The Flintstones/Rubbles and The Simpsons, The Beyonder and Star Trek's Q, and Simon Cowell and Stock/Aikten/Waterman?


• Talk about crossovers that would be great.

Three Magical Anniversaries

Upchuck's preparing for his big moment to emulate Harry Houdini, who was born on this day in 1874. Although both have performed daring escapes to impress their audiences, only Upchuck left his spectators disappointed that he survived.

Today is also the anniversary of not one but three Daria episodes: "Cafe Disaffecto" in 1997, "The Lost Girls" in 1999, and "The F Word" in 2000. You know, I suspect that if Mr. O'Neill had sent one of Daria's Melody Powers stories into Val Magazine instead, Daria wouldn't have won the "Spend a Day with Val" contest. You might say he would have succeeded at failing.

Fanfic Update!

• Daria Ravenclaw: The Highland Years, by Meester_Lee (parts 2 and 3): "'Is it going to be a boy baby or a girl baby?' said Quinn. 'I don't know yet,' said Helen. 'It's going to be a girl,' said Daria. She didn't know how, but she knew." (Part 3)


• Dystopia, by mailorderannie (part 3): "Brittany grabbed Daria's arm. 'C'mon!' she said in a low voice. 'But - ' Daria gestured to what had been the Guardian building."


• Lawndale 2021 Season Three, by Anguirus1955 (part 9): "It was just a quarter past five in the morning, when that dreadful sound woke me from my slumber. The hell?"


• Mysteries of Lawndale 03: Night of the Coffee House, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 3): "It was quarter past six when the group entered Viv's videos, and business was raging. There was a large number of customers in the store. 'This is going to be difficult,' Daria said."


• A New Set of Rules, by Dennis (part 28): "Things with Colleen were back to normal with Colleen by the next morning. Daria wished she could say the same thing about Kevin."


• Run Jodie Run, by DIsaac (parts 1 - 3): "'...That is why I'm announcing I, Jodie Abigail Landon, Will be running to be your next mayor of Lawndale! Just as I said eight years ago... I need your help to make this happen...'" (Part 2) (Part 3)


• Standstill, by Princess_Pasta (part 1): "It was a perfectly ordinary Wednesday afternoon, the sky overcast and dreary, early morning chill hanging in the air. Daria Morgendorffer was, predictably, late."


• Trent (Iron Chef : The another Lane vocation), by JPAGC (COMPLETE!): "The coins tintled as they fell on the open guitar case. 'Thank you, man,' said Trent. The donor smiled a little before continuing on his way."


• Vincent (Iron Chef : The another Lane vocation), by JPAGC (COMPLETE!): "The young man stood up, straightened his uniform, carefully examined his shoes, trousers and hands for any stains, dirt or wrinkles, and then knocked on the door."


• Wind (Iron Chef : The another Lane vocation), by JPAGC (COMPLETE!): "The four men and two women stand straight and unmoving, watching the bus crawl up the road. Their kahi skirts and army green trousers and skirts fall down in straight lines."

Shazam!

Upchuck is happy to celebrate the birth of one of his idols, Harry Houdini, who was born on this day in 1874. Houdini is one of the world's most famous magicians, although I don't think any of his assistants wore sparkly costumes and non-waterproof mascara.

Today also marks two anniversaries, because both "Cafe Disaffecto" and "The Lost Girls" aired on this day in 1997 and 1999. We didn't see any magic shows in either of those episodes, although Daria did demonstrate a pretty impressive degree of mind control over her fellow students in the former and made an aging narcissist disappear in the latter.

Fandom News!

• A new Lawndale Lowdown podcast is up, thanks to ognawk and Princess_Pasta!


• What are your thoughts on the possibility of mandatory voting for the USA?


• dmsfanman posted a new Iron Chef in Creative Writing: Challenged by D.


• Ranma would like some opinions on the choice of colors in a new fanart.

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.
  

Daria and the Bard

While The Bug Guy looks up the fanfics which have been influenced by Shakespeare, this post will briefly name some of the episodes that owe one or more elements to the Bard. "Cafe Disaffecto," "Lucky Strike," "The Lost Girls," "Ill," and "Quinn the Brain" all mention or describe the works of Shakespeare. Brittany at left reenacts the role of Juliet in "Cafe Disaffecto."

I have been lax about updating the fanfiction list but will attend to it later this evening. Some great stuff is out. Back to The Bug Guy.


"I can't take anymore of this Shakespeare dude, bro. He's, like, a total chick writer!"

—Kevin Thompson, Cafe Disaffecto

Daria and Her One True Career Goal

"Cafe Disaffecto" aired for the first time 12 years ago today. "The Lost Girls" appeared 10 years ago today. What's interesting is that in both episodes, Daria attracts attention because of her writing skills. She creates a riot in one and gives Val conniptions in the other, but it was her writing that got everything going each time. Maybe she really is destined to be "a bitter, angry hack who starts fights fistfights at cocktail parties" (The Daria Diaries). That would be wild, wouldn't it?

In fact, this idea is so interesting that I think I will start an Iron Chef thread on PPMB about it, for all you creative writers and perverts out there. Click the link and make Daria proud.