"What a good day to just kick back and chill!"

Helen and Jake have the right idea for Relaxation Day, but don't get used to it. The only way they'd both be this calm is in a fantasy sequence, which is exactly what this is. They sure do look happy for being figments of someone else's imagination, though, don't they?

They may be able to rekindle that laidback attitude if the kids go back to Alternapalooza, which took place on this day in what was most likely 1997. The last time the girls were out of the house for the music festival, Helen and Jake...had a lot of fun.

At the very least, they could reminisce about music festivals from their own youth, but not Woodstock, which began on this day in 1969. Their free concert of choice was Altamont, which has a far less peaceful place in history. At least Jake got a full refund! Somehow!

Fanfic Update!

• BOOM! (Scenes, Brainstorms, and Drabbles Thread), by itslipped (COMPLETE!): "It's a good un' of an explosion. A very likeable sheen of bulging orange that came with a sea of smoke following it."


• A Dye for Help, by Blake C Stacey (BlakeStacey) (COMPLETE!): "Jane had been a bit on edge—untamed, even, Daria would have said—since their trip to the zoo. She'd blown her pizza money at the art supply store and then walled herself off, telling Daria that her new piece wasn't to be seen until complete."


• Give Something New a Try, by elle_stone (part 1): "Running into her ex outside of the art supply store on the first chill afternoon of fall was not among Jane's expectations for the day. But Lawndale is small, and coincidence can be cruel."


• Jonesing For That Sweetness (Scenes, Brainstorms, and Drabbles Thread), by itslipped (COMPLETE!): "Dry throat. Dry mind. It needs the sweetness of that stuff. Gotta get it right down, or else..."


• Pokemon: May's Journey, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 3): "Commander Mars waited near the rift into the Distortion World after Cynthia, the girl from Twinleaf Town, the Hoenn Champion and the Kantonian teen had gone into it."


• Quarterback to the Future, by WildDogJJ (COMPLETE!): "Quinn’s husband, Jim, was in the garage working on a 1982 DeLorien DMC-12. For those who don’t know, that’s the car that was used in the Back to the Future movies." (Part 2) (Part 3)


• Spider Quinn 22 Attractions of Lawndale, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (parts 11 and 12): "Sandi entered at that moment and saw Kevin making a fool of himself. 'That’s enough, Kevin. I was there last night at the Historia. There’s, like, no need for a repeat.'" (Part 12)


• no outside to stand in, by KlondikeSolitare (COMPLETE!): "In a small, dark room, Daria's CRT computer monitor glowed. That light allowed Jane to write in her journal on the bed. This was the apex of their Wednesday night."


• We that Take Purses go by the Moon and the Seven Stars, by Blake C Stacey (BlakeStacey) (COMPLETE!): "'Mayday, mayday! We are under attack by Romulan pirates. This is Jennifer Sh'reyan of the Starfleet science vessel Faraday. I say again, we are under attack by Romu—'"


• You Are My Best Bet, by riotsquirrrl (COMPLETE!): "Jane awoke to the feeling of being cold, despite the layers of blankets wrapped up around her ears. She rolled over and frowned at the emptiness of the bed next to her, illuminated by the orange sodium streetlight seeping in through the blinds."

"What a good day to just kick back and chill!"

Helen and Jake are sure making the most of International Relaxation Day, but I don't expect it to last. They're both entirely too high-strung to be able to keep calm and peaceful for much more than a couple of minutes. Still, let's leave them to enjoy what little time they have before Helen's phone rings and ruins it, shall we?

For those looking for less peaceful pursuits, Alternapalooza began on this day in (most likely) 1997. While Daria and the gang never quite made it to the festival, they sure had an interesting adventure along the way. In the "interesting times" sense of interesting, that is.

Perhaps not coincidentally, the Woodstock music festival also began on this day, only in 1969. Jake ended up going to Altamont instead, but perhaps that's just as well. Woodstock's peace and love groove wouldn't have fit his personality well, as established previously re: his ability to relax.

Fandom News!

• Discuss the charity that unknowingly distributed meth-laced candy.

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.
  

Where Are the Remaining Members of Foam Party Now?

Twelve years ago today, Alternapalooza took place in Swedesville. However, Daria Morgendorffer could not have attended it (per "Road Worrier"), as that was in 1997, the year before the Morgendorffers arrived in Lawndale. She would have had to go to the concert in 1998 (or 1999), after her sophomore year was done.

But where is Foam Party? And what of Ciggie Butt?

Speaking of big outdoor rock concerts, the original Woodstock took place 40 years ago today, and we almost contacted aliens 32 years ago today. Daria has some words of advice about Woodstock, and some words of advice for any aliens we meet as well.

Father MartinUK offers a very interesting snapshot for your edification. I hope this is the real thing!

'Cuse Me, While I Kiss the Sky

Master guitarist, singer, and songwriter Jimi Hendrix was born 66 years ago today. Jodie Landon at left does her impersonation of him when he set his guitar on fire during a concert in London on March 31, 1967, and became immortal. We can be thankful for the music he gave us. He was The Man.

The alter ego of Jodie first appeared at the end of the episode "Antisocial Climbers."

Stan, one of the prisoners in "Speedtrapped," claimed to have known Hendrix. Hendrix could play guitar with his teeth, and Stan said he once drove Jimi to the dentist. Trent himself said of Hendrix: click here. In fanfic, several very familiar characters nearly met Hendrix at Woodstock '69.

Peace, y'all. Oh, but before I go:

PPMB

• Dancing with the Devil by the Pale Moonlight, by Lorenzo Sauchelli (teaser): No man knows till he has suffered from the night how sweet and dear to his heart and eye the morning can be. —Jonathan Harker.
• Shadow of a Cynic, by Ranger Thorne (continued): Daria goes on a run in the night and meets a mysterious stranger. (Chapter 6 is completed, more to come!)
• Southern Thanksgiving, by Legendeld (COMPLETE!): “Hi Mom, Dad.” She waved at the camera. Helen Morgendorffer waved back. “Happy Thanksgiving Quinn, where’s Danielle?”
• Thanksgiving Lesson, by Legendeld (COMPLETE!): This would be so cool, zombies overrunning the whole planet. She thought then a second more practical thought loomed. Then I’ll starve. Without school, I’d be in real trouble.
• Welcome Back, Daria, by Napalm Kracken (Part 2): It's girls' basketball night, and the old gang is still around. (Helen is dating WHO?)
  

And Everywhere There Was Song and Celebration

Perhaps I should have noticed this earlier, but I wonder if the reason why Alternapalooza was scheduled on August 15-17 (in The Daria Diaries) was because those were the original dates of the famous 1969 musical festival called Woodstock. (The festival actually ran over into Monday the 18th.) Funny. Here it was, a secret counterculture reference all this time buried in Daria lore, and only now do I figure it out. I must be reeeaaally slow.

The book that young Daria took to Camp Grizzly (at left), George Orwell's Animal Farm, was first published 63 years ago today.

Eleven years ago this weekend, the Chicago Tribune ran a story about Daria, seen here.

The most important anniversary, however, is last. One hundred years ago today, Frenchman Émile Cohl released the first-ever animated movie: Fantasmagorie. It was shown on-screen in Paris. To this little silent cartoon does Daria and all other animation owe their very existence. Merci!

Lots of terrific responses to two PPMB Iron Chefs: Sic transit gloria mundi and Mirror, Mirror... Read, enjoy, and add your own!


PPMB

• Legion of Lawndale Heroes Mini: How to Talk to Your Teen, by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): As Helen Morgendorffer watched her children grow, she wondered if she’d have a favorite child.
• New Life, by legendeld (COMPLETE!): “You just spent three hours with me standing here completely naked, rubbing me with makeup. Wasn’t that enough?” “No.”
• Starbright, by legendeld (Part 1): “What if you could have one more chance, just one?” “That would be great. One night to prove that we’re more than just fakes … but it would never happen.” “What if it could?”