Party On, Hoopy Froods!

Mrs. Johanssen clearly knows where her towel is for Towel Day, and I hope you have a good idea where yours is, too! For those who aren't aware, this holiday is a reference to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, and if you haven't read it I highly recommend it.

The book is a must-have for all geeks, which is excellent because today is also Geek Pride Day. It goes without saying that the Daria fandom tends to lean towards the geekier side of things, so please enjoy whatever geeky pursuits you want today without any embarrassment!

You can even burst into song for National Sing Out Day, although I kind of hope that the Daria cast doesn't. Some of them couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, and the songs from "Daria!" are some of the worst earworms.

Fanfic Update!

• Spider Quinn 09 A Part of the Journey, by cfardellbrenorenz29 (part 1): "Quinn Morgendorffer wasn’t sure why Ted Dewit-Cinton wanted her to accompany her on his interview of Norman Osborn."

Hey, Hoopy Froods!

Looks like Mrs. Johanssen knows where her towel is, which is important anytime but especially today, on Towel Day. I wonder if the monogrammed towel means that her first name starts with an "M" or if it actually stands for "Mrs."

Today is also Tap Dance Day, but I think Daria will sit this one out. The last thing she needs is to fall mid-step and give Quinn another reason to laugh at her.

Fanfic Update!

• Body Negativity (The Carbones), by WildDogJJ (COMPLETE!): "Quinn and Nicole are chatting over lunch in the city. Nicole is telling Quinn about her day at work." (Part 3)


• Danny Morgendorffer, by ST91 (parts 64 and 65): "It started with a click. When Daniel turned the lights off, three observers appeared behind the two-way mirrored wall." (Part 65)


• Living in America, by Lady Evil (parts 1 and 2): "At the Zon, Mystic Spiral was performing their new song." (Part 2)


• Love Rollercoaster (Linn's short stories (or ficlets, drabbles...)), by Linnofthewoods (part 1): "'Tell me again why we're here?' Daria sighed to Jane just after they entered Coney Island Amusement Park with Trent and Rose. The sickeningly happy couple was just ahead of them and wouldn't have looked out of place in a cheesy '90s deodorant commercial."

You Could At Least Pluck It First!

Mr. DeMartino is trying to get into the spirit of Geek Pride Day, but someone should explain to him that the holiday is about a different kind of geek. Then again, perhaps he's just trying to stretch his meager food budget in any way he can.

Speaking of geeks, today is also National Towel Day for the The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy geeks and The Glorious Twenty-Fifth of May for the Discworld geeks. I know we've got more than a few of each in our fandom!

Fanfic Update!

• Fates Entwined, by Deep Metal (part 16): "'Kevin, I'm sorry about what happened,' Daria told him. She knelt down before Kevin and put a hand on his shoulder. 'I know what it's like to lose someone you cared about deeply,' Daria said softly."


• Fear and Trembling, by Two-Eyed Charlie (part 2): "It was a brand new day to suffer through the same old shit, and Tim O'Neill was definitely suffering. It wasn't because of his little experience with Tara--that discovery that someone else in his world could barely tie their shoes without overstimulating their lizard brain--nor was it one of his own bouts of anxiety."


• Rise of Weirdness, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 2): "Hanna awoke and saw that her car was approaching the Moon. It was also upside down. That is the car was, relative to the crater which was her destination."


• Second Chance for Love, by David Falkayn (part 14): "Quinn looked at Elizaveta reclining on the couch in the living room and reading a book with puzzled amusement. 'What are you doing?' 'Reading a book and listening to music.' Elizaveta answered with a chuckle."

Happy Towel Day, Hoopy Froods!

Mrs. Johanssen clearly knows where her towel is for Towel Day, and we all hope it stays right where it is. Today is the holiday for fans of the late Douglas Adams, whose Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series has been referenced in various Daria fanfics.

Appropriately, today is also Geek Pride Day, and this fandom has some of the best geeks I've ever met. Er, that's the "likes geeky stuff" kind of geek, not the "biting heads off chickens" kind of geek. Just so you know.

Fandom News!

• Australian fans can chime in on the conversation about Brisbane residents on Brisbane.


• Watch the video and share your thoughts on the 107 Facts you SHOULD know about Daria.

Geek on, My Friends!

Happy Towel Day, hoopy froods! The holiday is of course in honor of the late Douglas Adams and the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. Mrs. Johanssen knows where her towel is; do you have yours?

This is also the anniversary of the first installment in the Star Wars movie series, A New Hope, which opened on this day in 1977. Overall, not a bad assortment of geeky events, considering it's Geek Pride Day on top of everything else!

Fanfic Update!

• Really? I'm a Star!, by DIsaac (part 1): "DARIA Maxwell (30, Former star of Daria. Since the show her career has been good enough to own a mansion but she is looking for her next big hit): What about the space ninja?"


• You'll Know When You Have Kids of Your Own, by metameric1 (part 6): "'Hey, Ani,' mumbled Rusty. Out slumming? 'Hey. Cool guitar,' smiled Ani. 'You never know what'll turn up in these stores. Looks like a good Les Paul Junior style axe.'"

Party On, Hoopy Froods!

It's Geek Pride Day! Celebrate by geeking out like Jesse, although don't let the Fashion Club catch you. Geeks everywhere get a double holiday, in fact, because today is also Towel Day, created in honor of the late science-fiction/humor writer Douglas Adams. All I can say is, forty-two!

Fanfic Update!

• Apathymorphs: The Invasion, by JoeMerl (part 4): "Suddenly I heard a tapping sound. It took us all a moment to locate its source—a large, white-and-gray bird was hovering outside my kitchen window, flapping its wings to stay aloft as it tapped on the glass with its beak. We all glanced at each other before I approached. [Good, they see me! Now...how do I make them figure out who I am?] 'Upchuck?' Jodie’s jaw nearly fell to the floor. [...Oh. That was easier than I thought.]"


• Beyond the Verdean Portal (Interstellar Portals - A worldbuilding scenario), by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 1): "They were now at a gateway, wondering what was inside. 'Should we go in captain?' one of the officer's asked. 'Absolutely! We have come this far. We cannot turn back now!'"


• Blessings of the Moon -- Chapter 4, by Fhujeth_x (COMPLETE!): "Stacy immediately perked up, recognizing the guy who bumped into Sandi as her new, Jewish friend Tom and her sister Susie, 'Oh, guys!!' She was glad someone she could trust was here, 'This is my sister Susie, remember?' Pointing to her she then pointed to Tom, 'This is Tom! He's Jewish!'" (Part 3) (Part 4)


• Bros (Scenes no Daria Fanfic should ever have-Now Springtime Fresh), by Shiva (COMPLETE!): "Brian Taylor's grin flashed red stains upon his bright white teeth, laying before him on the bed was a ruined husk that had once been his sister, they had had a lot of fun in the last hours of her life."


• Clique Swap, by psychotol (part 36): "Syn: 'yeah. ... Cade, Deliah and me used to work for Rav, a Feeorin pirate. I grew up with me dad on Rav’s ship, going around looting worlds. That was just normal to me. Cade, we picked him up on our way to Ossus, a world that had a Jedi temple on it. Imps had just killed the Jedi there, we had no idea Cade was a Jedi or at that point I’d have killed him.'"


• A Deadly Reunion (IC: Daria and Jane:Enemies at first sight), by RX-87 (COMPLETE!): "As America continues to mourn the loss of its first female president, shocking revelations have come to light that the late President Daria Morgendorffer-Sloane and her killer were not only residents of the same Baltimore suburb during their youth, they were in fact high school classmates."



• Death of Memes (Scenes no Daria Fanfic should ever have-Now Springtime Fresh), by thatLONERchick (COMPLETE!): "'I will kill myself,' Daria decided, standing on the school roof and overlooking the campus. 'For I am an emo child, depressed that my self-inflicted isolation has led the world to misunderstand me. Also, I will disregard my intolerance for pain and thus slit my wrists, like so.'"


• Ethan Yeager in Lawndale: Ch 6 Loud Desperation, by Shiva (parts 1 - 3): "Ethan went back over to the couch and sat down, Josh glanced at him and noticed that his boyfriend seemed worried. 'What’s up man?' Josh asked, concerned by the sudden change in demeanor. 'Mack’s coming over to talk.' Ethan said in a monotone that he rarely used anymore, 'Something’s happened and it doesn’t sound good.'" (Part 2) (Part 3)


• Family New, by RLobinske (part 3): "Rita motioned for the stair step next to here. 'Have seat. Tell me a little about Daria.' Jane sat but said, 'You're her aunt.' Rita sighed. 'Daria's mother and I never got along very well and therefore, so we didn't see each other very often. Now...it's too late.'"


• Judith Cosplay (Scenes no Daria Fanfic should ever have-Now Springtime Fresh), by Shiva (COMPLETE!): "Daria Morgendorffer glared at the basket that was filled with her clothes, or rather what had been her clothes. What remained was in ruins since someone (cough-QUINN-cough) had thrown in a dye packet and now everything was tye-dyed."


• Lawndale School of Magic Part Three: Modeling, by Reven384 (COMPLETE!): "Ms. Li smiled as she approached the two members of the modeling agency. They looked at her and shook their heads at her lack of fashion. Ms. Li looked at them like a lioness ready to strike. She waved her hands and the two couldn’t move. 'You will leave my school,' she said."


• Lost and Found, by Reven384 (prologue): "Stacy eeped as the plane shook violently. Quinn’s head darted around nervously as well. She was sure it was nothing but the plan shaking violently made her nervous when she was high in the air. The plane shook again. 'All passengers are to return to their seats at once,' said a shaky voice over the intercom, 'We are going down.'"


• Only the Truth (Iron Chef: The Invention of Lying), by ST91 (parts 1 and 2): "'Hi. I'm Daria Morgendorffer. I'm a 16-years-old cynical, sarcastic teenager. In truth, my way of doing is just a deception. I'm too smart and sensitive to live happily in this world , so I use my way of being like an armor to keep everyone away and avoid being hurt. I believe that the cause of this attitude can be attributed to my family....'" (Part 2)


• A Resentful Cynic Ch. 3 The curse of Middleton, by ST91 (part 5): "She walked faster and faster as to beat the tears that were about to get off her face. Don't cry. Don't cry. You swore that you wouldn't have allowed them to reduce you in this state anymore. Unfortunately Daria failed and began to cry."



• TDJS CH. 2 Interlude, by ST91 (COMPLETE!): "Alright Jake, you have to behave like a good father and chat with your son. The argument doesn’t matter now, it’s important to form a real bond with your kid. You don’t have to be like that cold-hearted rat bastard. The thoughts of his father ran wild. You won’t be a nightmare for him! You won’t undermine his self-esteem by sending him to a lousy military school because he’s not man enough for you! You don’t have too..."


• To Annoy a Mockingbird. Chapter 05, by BF110C4 (part 6.3): "Biting her tongue, Daria stopped the sarcastic remark that threatened to leave her lips and instead introduced properly. 'Hi, I’m Daria, and this is my partner in crime Jane, I believe that we were invited by Heather.' Upon realizing recognizing the names her whole demeanor changed, the scowl faded and was replaced with something that could pass for a warm smile... for a jackal."


• Undying Love, by BrownEyedBagel (part 4): "Jane lost herself in her thoughts. It wasn’t like it was the first time she had torn a live person apart with her hands. It wasn’t the first time she had devoured a human being. Hell, it wasn’t even the first time she had entered a carnal rage right in front of Daria; most of her meals came from her anyway. What bothered her was that this was the first time that she had lost control in her studio."


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: The Invention of Lying), by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): "Mack took a drink of his soda, and looked right into Jodie's eyes. 'I'll tell you this - the first time I see Daria after I graduate, if she says anything that even remotely comes across as 'yes', I'm taking her off somewhere, and working that like it's my summer job to pay for my books and rent come college in the fall.' 'I can see that,' Jodie agreed. 'I'm going to make a point of running into her either next summer, or during the Christmas break of my Sophomore year. I bet she's like a honey badger in bed.'"


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: The Invention of Lying), by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): "'So Quinn, will you go on a date with us?' the Three Js asked. 'What? Are you crazy?' Quinn asked."


• Unamed story (Stories with Helen taking what she deserves), by 11tee (COMPLETE!): "Helen mounted the stairs gingerly, trying not to see what lay before her. That's when she saw the note."


• Unnamed story (This can't be the start of a round robin... IS IT?!), by Fhujeth_x (part 1): "Tiffany headed towards the breakfast table. Her mind was set on attending school, but first she had to make sure she was well fed for the day. After all, her mother always said; 'Girl, you better eat yo' food or I'm gonna slap you 'cross the face, ya hear?'"


• Vive Le Boom (Scenes no Daria Fanfic should ever have-Now Springtime Fresh), by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): "Daria heard her cellphone ringing. Without her glasses, she felt blindly for it until she found it on the bedstand. She mumbled, 'Hello?' 'Daria?' It was Quinn. 'Where the hell are you?'"


• Vivian, by ST91 (part 3): "She's back, she's back. I'm not dreaming. She's back after all this years ... after she .... she... thought Brittany while tears ran down her cheeks. After she has left you... said another voice in his head. Immediately the whirlwind of emotions that had overwhelmed Brittany disappeared and left space for another emotion: anger."


• Welcome to the Green Room, by TheExcellentS (COMPLETE!): "Daria and Jane clinked their soda cups. To the rest of their lives. Then... there was light. Before either Daria or Jane could comprehend what was happening, the light consumed them and all around them. Until there was nothing."


• What Did You Do During The War, Daria?, by echopapa (part 4): "Heading for the danger zone, Daria thought quickly. She knew that there was no way she was going to dump Jane in the middle of a firefight, but she also knew that Jane was stubborn and would indeed follow her unless..."

Do You Know Where Your Towel Is?

Happy Towel Day, everybody! I know we have at least a few Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy enthusiasts out there in fandom, so here are a few Daria/H2G2 crossovers for your enjoyment:

• A Cynical Guide to the Galaxy by Jill Palmer


• Daria's Guide to the Galaxy by jBONE


• The Hitch Hiker's Guide To Sarcasm, part 1 and The Hitch Hiker's Guide To Sarcasm, part 2 by Tafka

And now, the moment you've been waiting for: the fandom news update!

• Kem has a question/request regarding videos at the PPMB.


• Fandom expresses its concern and best wishes for victims of the tornado(es) In Joplin, Missouri.


• Kara Wild is looking for help from any British legal historians.


• How would you mix Daria with Dungeons and Dragons?


• Who do you think was/is the biggest liar in cartoons?


• A new discussion/exercise in Weapons of Mass Distraction: Books We Own.


• The video game Duke Nukem Forever has finally been completed!

Nerds and Towels Go Together Like Fish and Bicycles

Today is Nerd Pride Day, hooray! And in a closely related development it is also Towel Day. Let your inner nerd and its towel out for a stroll. Be proud of who you are. Then knock it off, it's embarrassing to see you like that. Jeez, what's wrong with you? Daria, below right, shows us the proper use of a towel on Towel Day. Artie at left is the nerd poster child for today.

A list is being prepared of all the fanfics released in the last few days. Check back for details and be patient. (Finally done with PPMB and FF.net!)

More additions have recently been made to Things Students Still Are Not Allowed To Do At Lawndale High. A great thread.

If you want to join the Judith Strikes! shared world proposed by the great Erin Mills (one of two Daria fans who appeared on "Camp Fear" as cartoon characters), he provides more background info on two items all writers need to know: the Locket and the Cloak. Erin has also provided the opening scene for the shared world stories. Go to it!

Recent Iron Chefs

• Iron Chef by CR85747: Daria meets Daria. Have Daria Morgendorffer meet a fictional or real-world person who also has the same first name of Daria.
• Iron Chef by OverlordMikey: Genderbent wha!? "I was thinking, there have been a lot of gender bending with Daria characters, but I don't remember ever seeing one where Daria (or another) wakes up as the other gender, much to the shock of those around her/him and themselves. (Normally it seems to be either a dream or a retelling.) How will people cope!? How will they themselves cope!? Will they return to their original gender? Write it and tell me!"
• Iron Chef by Wouter: Daria's children, your view. How would Daria be as a mother, what would her kids be like?

FF.net (COMPLETE!)

• The InDark, by Mediancat (Parts 1 and 2): Here I am and am no I. Not quite, thought Daria Faith Morgendorffer, but Delany put it better than she could. 'Course, when he wrote it, he had more experience than Daria did—actual and age-wise. In her case, it's: here I am and am two I's.

PPMB (COMPLETE!)

• Delivery Day Deferred, by NightGoblyn (COMPLETE!): "The gas station burst into flames!" Quinn said, waving her arms emphatically. "Gas stations are not supposed to burst into flames!" (Ringbearer/Daylight/Judith Dariaverse crossover)
• The Dream of the White Darkness, by jtranser (continued): In her office, seated at her desk, Daria read her lecture notes again. It was a moonless night, the wind was out of the North and the Chancellor's dog, tied up in the Quad, was rasping out its weird bark signifying the presence of strangers.
  
• Eye of the Beholder, by Yogi, Glittershrooms, OverlordMikey, et al. (Part 3): Angela Li sat over a model of Lawndale. No one knew of her evil plans. "I already have everything complete except for those few in my way. Well, there is one more—" She looked at a model of the Sloane’s. "I need to get control of the Sloane family if my plans are to come together." Of course, that shall be easy.
• Falling into College: The Clip Show, by Richard Lobinske (COMPLETE!): Holding a copy of Val between finger and thumb as if it were a dead rat, Daria tossed it in the garbage and said, "I guess we couldn't get away without a final set of annoyances. You know, I still wonder if we didn't get some unexpected help. As much as I appreciate it, the idea is still..."
• Finn Morgendorffer 47: Hell is Homecoming, by HolyGrail2007 (Parts 1 to 4): "If I’m Homecoming King, someone’s going to have to take the quarterback’s spot on the float. And I sure as hell am not going to let it be Kevin.”
• John Lane 46: Substitute Plans, by RLobinske (Part 2): Mack said, "What are we going to do about teaching? How do we handle the students?" "In your case," John said, "I'd recommend a cattle prod. Watching Boys P.E. is more a matter of making sure that they don't wreck the building than it is of actually trying to teach them anything."
  
• Old Kid, New Man, by JPAGC (COMPLETE!): I meet Ted in a nice and quiet vegetarian cafe/restaurant located in San Jose, California, his current living place. He smiles and stands when I approach and I am momentarily taken aback by his changed appearance from the teenager who had appeared in the Daria show to the man before me: Ted is taller and rougher, has grown a disheveled beard and his hair is longer and seems slightly unkempt. He is also wearing a formal business suit. But his handshake is strong and frank, and his smile open and carefree, just like the teenager one can see in the episodes. We sit, me for a coffee and him to have lunch, the only time is has available for this interview.
• Siblings, by LOTR_Dan (COMPLETE!): "It's my fault they're dead, you know. It's my fault they went out into that storm." [What happened after things went wrong in "Antisocial Climbers."]
  
• Tales of the Ringbearers: Bad Apple—The Second Raid, by Doggieboy (Part 1): Electro-Shock looked away, his expression pensive. "If this is a Ringbearer's house," he muttered, "then God help you all when he comes back." He moved towards the front door. "God help me when he comes back." (preview here)
  
• Unnamed story (Falling into College: The Clip Show), by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): Reading the PPMB thread off his laptop computer in the office of the Psych Detective Agency, Gus Burton looked across the room at the sound of Shawn Spencer and the attractive Latina's argument getting louder and louder. "It blew up the Floating Continent in one shot the very first time they used it!" the woman almost shouted, the blueberry cake donut in her tightening fist falling to pieces. "The Argo was built from the remains of a World War II battleship, while that THING is the size of a small moon!"

DON'T PANIC!

Yes, today is Towel Day, one of many special celebrations this day before Memorial Day. Towel Day commemorates the great comedy SF works of Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker's Guide series).

The image at left is the only pic I can find anywhere that shows Daria with a towel, so this is now the official unofficial Daria Celebrates Towel Day Image. Maybe someone can post a clearer picture. It's from the start of IIFY?, before the ball hits Daria. (I took the ball out.)

Towel Day must be an interesting kid at Holiday Island High, always wearing a towel around his/her neck. Also at Holiday Island High today are Africa Day (a transfer student with a West African accent) and May Revolution Day (another transfer student who speaks Spanish with an Argentinian flavor). We also have Universal Day of the Jedi, in honor of the very first showing of the movie Star Wars only 31 years ago. (Man, that makes me feel old.) I cannot find any Star Wars alter egos of the Daria cast, so we'll have to skip that.

I remember now why I took a break last November from writing fanfic: I hardly have time for it thanks to some schedule changes in Real Life. Doing entries for this blog was easier and took less time. Nonetheless, the Doc Holliday story on PPMB/SFMB will continue. I'm about a third of the way through Chapter 4.

Time to do a fanfic update. More soon. Thanks for putting up with me.