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Baylor Bears (6-7)
Air Force Falcons Akron Zips Alabama Crimson Tide Appalachian State Mountaineers Arizona Wildcats Arizona State Sun Devils Arkansas Razorbacks Arkansas State Red Wolves Army West Point Black Knights Auburn Tigers Ball State Cardinals Baylor Bears Boise State Broncos Boston College Eagles Bowling Green Falcons Buffalo Bulls BYU Cougars California Golden Bears Central Michigan Chippewas Charlotte 49ers Cincinnati Bearcats Clemson Tigers Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Colorado Buffaloes Colorado State Rams Connecticut Huskies Duke Blue Devils East Carolina Pirates Eastern Michigan Eagles FIU Panthers Florida Gators Florida Atlantic Owls Florida State Seminoles Fresno State Bulldogs Georgia Bulldogs Georgia Southern Eagles Georgia State Panthers Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Houston Cougars Illinois Fighting Illini Indiana Hoosiers Iowa Hawkeyes Iowa State Cyclones James Madison Dukes Kansas Jayhawks Kansas State Wildcats Kent State Golden Flashes Kentucky Wildcats Liberty Flames Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks Louisville Cardinals LSU Tigers Marshall Thundering Herd Maryland Terrapins Massachusetts Minutemen Memphis Tigers Miami (FL) Hurricanes Miami (OH) RedHawks Michigan Wolverines Michigan State Spartans Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Minnesota Golden Gophers Mississippi State Bulldogs Missouri Tigers Navy Midshipmen Nebraska Cornhuskers Nevada Wolf Pack New Mexico Lobos New Mexico State Aggies North Carolina Tar Heels North Carolina State Wolfpack North Texas Mean Green Northern Illinois Huskies Northwestern Wildcats Notre Dame Fighting Irish Ohio Bobcats Ohio State Buckeyes Oklahoma Sooners Oklahoma State Cowboys Old Dominion Monarchs Ole Miss Rebels Oregon Ducks Oregon State Beavers Penn State Nittany Lions Pittsburgh Panthers Purdue Boilermakers Rice Owls Rutgers Scarlet Knights San Diego State Aztecs San Jose State Spartans SMU Mustangs South Alabama Jaguars South Carolina Gamecocks South Florida Bulls Southern Miss Golden Eagles Stanford Cardinal Syracuse Orange TCU Horned Frogs Temple Owls Tennessee Volunteers Texas Longhorns Texas A&M Aggies Texas State Bobcats Texas Tech Red Raiders Toledo Rockets Troy Trojans Tulane Green Wave Tulsa Golden Hurricane UAB Blazers UCF Knights UCLA Bruins UNLV Rebels USC Trojans Utah Utes Utah State Aggies UTEP Miners UTSA Roadrunners Vanderbilt Commodores Virginia Cavaliers Virginia Tech Hokies Wake Forest Demon Deacons Washington Huskies Washington State Cougars West Virginia Mountaineers Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Western Michigan Broncos Wisconsin Badgers Wyoming Cowboys ---- Championship Subdivision ---- Abilene Christian Wildcats Alabama A&M Bulldogs Alabama State Hornets Albany Great Danes Alcorn State Braves Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions Austin Peay Governors Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Brown Bears Bryant Bulldogs Bucknell Bison Butler Bulldogs Cal Poly Mustangs Campbell Fighting Camels Central Arkansas Bears Central Connecticut State Blue Devils Charleston Southern Buccaneers Chattanooga Mocs Citadel Bulldogs Colgate Raiders Columbia Lions Cornell Big Red Dartmouth Big Green Davidson Wildcats Dayton Flyers Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens Delaware State Hornets Drake Bulldogs Duquesne Dukes Eastern Illinois Panthers Eastern Kentucky Colonels Eastern Washington Eagles Elon Phoenix ETSU Buccaneers Florida A&M Rattlers Fordham Rams Furman Paladins Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs Georgetown Hoyas Grambling State Tigers Hampton Pirates Harvard Crimson Holy Cross Crusaders Houston Christian Huskies Howard Bison Idaho Vandals Idaho State Bengals Illinois State Redbirds Indiana State Sycamores Jackson State Tigers Jacksonville State Gamecocks Kennesaw State Owls Lafayette Leopards Lamar Cardinals Lehigh Mountain Hawks Lindenwood Lions LIU Sharks Maine Black Bears Marist Red Foxes McNeese Cowboys Mercer Bears Merrimack Warriors Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils Missouri State Bears Monmouth Hawks Montana Grizzlies Montana State Bobcats Morehead State Eagles Morgan State Bears Murray State Racers New Hampshire Wildcats Nicholls Colonels Norfolk State Spartans North Alabama Lions North Carolina A&T Aggies North Carolina Central Eagles North Dakota Fighting Hawks North Dakota State Bison Northern Arizona Lumberjacks Northern Colorado Bears Northwestern State Demons Penn Quakers Portland State Vikings Prairie View A&M Panthers Presbyterian Blue Hose Princeton Tigers Rhode Island Rams Richmond Spiders Robert Morris Colonials Sacramento State Hornets Sacred Heart Pioneers Saint Francis U Red Flash Sam Houston Bearkats Samford Bulldogs San Diego Toreros South Carolina State Bulldogs South Dakota Coyotes South Dakota State Jackrabbits Southeast Missouri State Redhawks Southeastern Louisiana Lions Southern Illinois Salukis Southern University Jaguars Southern Utah Thunderbirds St. Thomas (MN) Tommies Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks Stetson Hatters Stonehill Skyhawks Stony Brook Seawolves Tarleton State Texans Tennessee State Tigers Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles Texas A&M-Commerce Lions Texas Southern Tigers Towson Tigers UC Davis Aggies UIW Cardinals UNI Panthers UT Martin Skyhawks Utah Tech Trailblazers Valparaiso Beacons Villanova Wildcats VMI Keydets Wagner Seahawks Weber State Wildcats Western Carolina Catamounts Western Illinois Leathernecks William & Mary Tribe Wofford Terriers Yale Bulldogs Youngstown State Penguins
Sat. 11/19 Fri. 11/25 Thu. 12/22
vs. TCU
Box | Recap @ Tex
Box | Recap @ AF
Box | Recap
Powledge returns to Baylor as defensive coordinator
WACO, Texas (AP) Matt Powledge is returning to Baylor as defensive coordinator after a season away at Oregon.
Bears coach Dave Aranda announced the hire Thursday. Powledge replaces Ron Roberts, who was fired after the 6-6 regular season and has since become defensive coordinator at Auburn for new coach Hugh Freeze.
Before spending this season as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Oregon, Powledge was on Aranda's original staff at Baylor. Powledge, a Texas native, was the Bears' safeties coach and special teams coordinator in 2020 and 2021.
Bears Headlines
Air Force beats Baylor 30-15 in chilly Armed Forces Bowl
Passing Yards: B. Shapen 2790
Passing TDs: B. Shapen 18
Rushing Yards: R. Reese 972
Rushing TDs: R. Reese 14
Receiving Yards: M. Baldwin 565
Receiving TDs: M. Baldwin 4
Interceptions: C. Morgan 3
Date Opponent Result / Time
9/3 vs. Albany W 69 - 10
9/10 at 21 BYU L 20 - 26
9/17 vs. Texas State W 42 - 7
9/24 at Iowa State W 31 - 24
10/1 vs. 9 Oklahoma State L 25 - 36
10/13 at West Virginia L 40 - 43
10/22 vs. Kansas W 35 - 23
10/29 at Texas Tech W 45 - 17
11/5 at Oklahoma W 38 - 35
11/12 vs. 19 Kansas State L 3 - 31
11/19 vs. 4 TCU L 28 - 29
11/25 at 23 Texas L 27 - 38
12/22 at Air Force L 15 - 30
Conference Overall
3 TCU 9-0 13-2
9 Kansas State 7-2 10-4
20 Texas 6-3 8-5
Texas Tech 5-4 8-5
Oklahoma State 4-5 7-6
Baylor 4-5 6-7
Kansas 3-6 6-7
Oklahoma 3-6 6-7
West Virginia 3-6 5-7
Iowa State 1-8 4-8
Offense (FBS Rank)
Yards: 5380 (47)
Passing Yards: 3009 (67)
Rushing Yards: 2371 (44)
Points per game: 32.2 (41)
Yards per game: 413.8 (48)
Touchdowns: 53 (33)
Field Goals: 8 (128)
Defense (FBS Rank)
Field Goals: 14 (62)


Chloe and her two children were rescued five years ago by Nugget Nate and Penny. Since then they'd lived at Nate's mission for troubled women called Sanctuary Place. Now, with Sanctuary House ready she, and several other rehabilitated women, are moving to Stones Creek, Colorado to find a loving husband. When a person from her past is revealed she worries that her new start might be over for good. She just wants to find a Sanctuary where she and her children can feel loved, wanted, and useful. Can Stones Creek be that place or will she once again be cast aside? Will the men who abandoned her five years ago ruin her chance at a Happy Ever After? Or will she find Sanctuary in the arms of the local blacksmith?
McIlroy has a secret. He lost a wife and family to evil people during the war. He want's nothing to do with any of the women at Sanctuary House, or so he tells himself. Yet, he's drawn to the tall, dark-haired Chloe and her children. Can he learn to forgive himself and allow love into his life again? Or will he push the woman away out of fear and guilt?
Eight women are getting a second chance at Sanctuary House. Will they find it or is the past too strong to overcome? Will they find husbands for themselves and fathers for their children or was Nugget Nate wrong to send them here? Can the past be overcome? Is there really a chance for any of them to find Sanctuary? The answers lie in the pages of Chloe's Sanctuary.
Chloe's Sanctuary is a stand-alone book but reading the series in order is recommended.


Multimedia, the combination of text, images, sound and video, work together to help to create a multi-sensory, fully immersive environment. Adding multimedia elements helps educators engage students in a uniquely interactive environment. Many students find it easier to remember pictures as opposed to paragraphs of flat text, especially when it comes to non-native languages. In addition, multimedia integration also empowers students to create and design rather than simply absorb and regurgitate static information.
Adding sound clips, video and student voice recording functionality into your language assessment activities provides students with the unique ability to engage with assessment material beyond simply reading questions and responding. Allowing students to hear and see assessment concepts in an interactive and student driven environment, makes test material and assessment activities more approachable. In addition, by making language learning fun, course material becomes more relatable and the stress of test taking is reduced.
Many students find reading in a new language overwhelming, and as a result, many students disengage from the material long before a test date. Adding audio and visuals creates a new dimensional to language learning, allowing students to gain exposure to concepts incrementally, leading up to an assessment. Students are able to recognize language patterns and nuances through previous exposure to sound and imagery. When test day arrives, multimedia elements incorporated into the assessment activities help students recognize key phrases and concepts that would have otherwise been ignored if they were relying only on memory of reading static passages in a text book.
Today's digital learners are tech-savvy and accustomed to engaging with content through a digital screen. Adding multimedia elements to your language assessment activities ultimately brings language and culture education to the student's level, and thus making these concepts more relatable and less intimidating.
Allowing students to create stories, slideshow presentations or recorded narratives, language educators give students the ability to express their ideas and work in a concise way, capturing their ability to communicate their thoughts and concepts beyond simply regurgitation. Giving students more tools to present their work allows learners to engage in assessment activities in a more personalized way, which improves creativity, creative thinking and reflective thoughts.
Are you looking for a way to start integrating multimedia into your language assessment activities? XpressLab is a unique digital language assessment, course authoring and course delivery platform that uses multimedia tools and interactive activities designed to make learning more interactive and ultimately, more fun. XpressLab integrates online testing and evaluation by allowing educators to post a wide range of exam types, including oral, auditory and timed exams. Students are able to take tests and complete assignments directly within the XpressLab platform, and assessment results are automatically recorded within the platform, making it easier for educators to evaluate and track each student's achievements.
To learn more about the Xpresslab platform, visit us at www.xpresslab.com or get in on the conversation on Facebook or Twitter.


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⇒ NavigateHome About Getting Started Resources Services Blog Contact
info@fpslakeland.com
Dr. Elizabeth Dumville started her work with children and families working in a community mental health setting. Her therapeutic work with foster care and adoption families sparked her passion in working with children and families. She transitioned to a private practice setting where she continued her professional work with children and families; in addition to community speaking and outreach. Her persistent motivation to better understand how attachment and trauma interfere with a child's relationship development paved the way for her to continue her education. While in her doctorate program she enjoyed working in a school setting with high school students and young adults at a college counseling setting. She provides individual, sibling, and family therapy for toddlers, children and adolescents. She is skilled at working with individuals and families facing relationships struggles. Her areas of expertise also include her work with individuals suffering traumatic grief and loss, single incident and complex trauma, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, anxiety, depression, and children of high-conflict divorce.
Elizabeth extends a sense of hope, determination, and understanding which serves to engage a sense of courage within the child and family as they face their struggles. Her collaborative approach to therapy and psychological testing assists the child and family in building resources to build resiliency for each family to persevere through life's storms.
She integrates various treatment modalities within a play therapy setting. Her work with adolescents also includes multiple treatment modalities which offer a variety of ways for adolescents to express and communicate their thoughts and feelings. Her primary emphasis is consistently on the therapeutic relationship. Elizabeth respects and appreciates the role of the family and enjoys working with the entire unit to assist with creating lasting change.
Please contact us at (863) 606-6001 or info@fpslakeland.com for details. At Family Psychological Services of Lakeland our goal is to provide a high level of service by well qualified and experienced psychologists. This is reflected in our fee.
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Level 1 & II Basic Training
Registered Play Therapist with the Association of Play Therapy (APT)
Association of Play Therapy
American Psychology Law Society
107 Morningside Drive Suite C
107 Morningside Drive Suite C Lakeland FL 33803
Please like us and follow us on our Facebook Page for the latest updates
Now Offering Teletherapy Services
contact the office for details.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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"Bandhan" Fair Price Shop
Economists say that the financial crisis of 2007-08 was one of the worst financial crises since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The impact hit all economies and Bangladesh was not an exception. Prices of goods increased significantly and for the workers who were earning less than US$ 45 per month during the time felt significant challenges in order to tackle the situation. That was when DBL Group decided to include – which till date is one of the highlights of DBL Group's achievement – the "Bandhan" Fair Price Shop.
It is very much feasible for DBL Group to increase the wages and salaries of workers and this was done during the time too by providing ad-hoc increment of 15% effective from July 2008. However, this particular issue was greatly sensitive as all the industries in DBL Group's cluster of Konabari-Kashimpur reacted quite aggressively, demanding an equal increment from their management. That is why a strategic approach was required which would not only prevent any industrial unrest but also address the financial challenges of the workers. "Bandhan" Fair Price Shop provided the solution.
The transaction process
Transaction in any shop takes place through cash or credit cards. Credit card being used by a worker is an idea that still remains elusive. Credit card payments also include additional costs through interests. "Bandhan" provides a rather unique system: a worker is able to purchase items through credit but without bearing any interest.
Filling up a requisition form including the ID and submitting to the shop or to its representatives – only these two steps are required by a worker for payment: the bills are adjusted with their salaries. During their breaks, the worker simply goes to the shop, collects the items, and heads back home. The long waiting queue that is present in a supermarket – where a customer has to wait for each single item being scanned in and then making the payment – has been totally eliminated here. An in-house designed point of sale (POS) system effectively keeps track of each worker's procurement. The system also allows a limit to the total spending by a worker per month: this is to prevent him/her from overspending and thus starting a month with little or no money.
"Bandhan" in figures
"Bandhan" provides everyday commodities at subsidized prices ranging from 5% to 20%. The 368 items, from Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline and other nationally and internationally recognized brands, include categories of food, cooking oil, toiletries, house-keeping, tea and beverages, and so on.
"Bandhan" was initially launched in DBL Group's Jinnat Complex where Garments and Knitting operations are taking place. With its success, today five complexes now have their own Fair Price Shop. What started with transactions worth BDT 1,217,444 (US$ 15,583) in 2008 expanded in 2015 to transactions amounting to BDT 51,287,477 (US$ 656,471). The success of Bandhan's sales throughout the years has been portrayed in the graph below.
Worker feedback
The sales figure of the shop speaks for the performance itself. A regular user of the shop, Ms. Popy Akhter, Sewing Operator, states the following:
"It is really very helpful for us that we are able to buy a variety of good quality daily necessity products from 'Bandhan' Fair Price Shop. The product price is really very low compared to the market with the added benefit of buying on credit."
Other workers expressed similar comments. Ms. Sajeda was impressed by the less priced products and the availability of fish. She also stated "The on-credit system is really beneficial". Ms. Munni joined DBL less than four months earlier and although she is yet to make any transactions, she stated "I plan to buy products from 'Bandhan". Ms. Alpona, who has been with DBL for over a year now, appreciated the quality of products available. She also said, "I have found no gaps here: it is an excellent shop".
Achievements from "Bandhan"
The employee retention is one of the most prominent achievements from "Bandhan". A recent observation was made in one of DBL Group's new factories: the remoteness of the location and lack of availability of shops for everyday items caused high turnover of workers. "Bandhan" was constructed in the premises and the change in turnover was almost immediate: within three months, the rate went down by more than one-third.
"Bandhan" has received commendable recognitions from various guests visiting DBL Group over the years. The most important benefit that this shop provides is creating better bonding between employee-employer: hence the meaning of "Bandhan", which means "bonding", is emphasized.
No Water, No Life: Water saving practices of DBL Group
71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water. An adult human body has on the average 50% to 65% water; in infants, this is up to 78%. Relating to water, the famous poet W. H. Auden once stated: "Thousands…
Family Planning Corner: Promoting Well-being
"A healthy place is a happy place" is an old saying but something which will always remain. "Healthy" refers not just to the physical attributes but the psychological issues as well. For women, the cases are more sensitive than men.…
Advancing with SDG 5: Gender Equality
A continuously growing industry, DBL Group is a diversified business entity which has vertically integrated textile and apparel manufacturing facilities. DBL started business in 1991 and today has 22,595 employees with a turnover of US$ 320 million for 2014-15. DBL…
Community Engagement and Development
Primitive societies flourished through collective effort and bartering, which was based on a simple "give-and-take" mechanism. Then for generations, focus was on the individual drivers of success: passion, hard work, talent, and luck. But in today's dramatically reconfigured world, things…
Economists say that the financial crisis of 2007-08 was one of the worst financial crises since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The impact hit all economies and Bangladesh was not an exception. Prices of goods increased significantly and for…


text:
ACCEPTED

#### According to
Index Fungorum

#### Published in
Neth. Jl Pl. Path. 85(4): 166 (1979)

#### Original name
Peronospora viciae f. sp

### Remarks
null

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


On the way to Sudan: A 6,000-ton shipload of Canadian food. The flour, powdered milk, cooking oil, sugar and medicine make up one of the largest shipments for famine relief assembled in Canada, organizers said. The federal government chipped in $5 million for supplies, and $2 million came from donations by Canadians to private relief agencies. An estimated 7 million people face starvation in Sudan. A deadline: The ship must reach the Port of Sudan before the start of the impending rainy season makes it impossible to distribute food.


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Q: AJAX Content -- Server-Side Functions I have a webpage that dynamically loads external HTML files and places them inside a specified div on the webpage.
so..
<%@ Page Language="VB" AutoEventWireup="false" CodeFile="Default.aspx.vb"
Inherits="_Default" %>

 <button type="button" id="button1">Begin</button>

When button1 is pressed, jQuery will use the load method to remove button1 from the div, and replace it with button2.

<button type="button" id="button2">Next</button>

If I now wanted to reach some function on the server from button2, how can this be done? Keep in mind that button2 is NOT a ASP.NET page so it doesn't have the ability to use runat="server".

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Made Up Stories is a film and television development and production company founded in 2017 by producer Bruna Papandrea that "[champions] women on and off the screen." The company has offices in Los Angeles and Sydney.

History
In 2012, Bruna Papandrea co-founded Pacific Standard with actress Reese Witherspoon, a production company focusing on creating films made by and about women. Their first two projects at Pacific Standard were Gone Girl and Wild, both adapted from books whose rights were acquired before publication. Both films were released in 2014, receiving commercial success and extensive accolades. The company had finished production on Hot Pursuit (2015), by the time the first two pictures were released.

In 2016, Papandrea and Witherspoon announced that they were ending their partnership, though they would continue to work on the projects that were in the middle of production, including the HBO series Big Little Lies which was received 16 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and won eight, including Outstanding Limited Series.

Papandrea launched Made Up Stories in January 2017 to carry on her mission in championing female filmmakers, adapting female-written novels and creating stories featuring multi-faceted female characters. The company is also committed to inclusivity in less-acknowledged departments behind-the-scenes such as transportation teams and gaffers. Papandrea has expressed intent to start a foundation, Made Up Solutions, to provide opportunities for women from low socio-economic and diverse backgrounds.

In January 2021, the company made history: it became the first ever Australian production company to have the top two films at the Australian box office (with Penguin Bloom and The Dry).

In December 2022, Made Up Stories Chief Operating Officer and Producer Steve Hutensky's historical involvement in silencing victims of Harvey Weinstein during his time as an employee of Miramax and The Weinstein Company was reported for the first time in the Australian Media.

Current projects

On the film side, Made Up Stories adapted The Dry based on the debut book of Australian novelist Jane Harper. The film, directed by Robert Connolly and starring Eric Bana, was released in Australia on January 1 to a strong box office, making it one of the highest grossing Australian film opening weekends ever. The film was released by IFC Films in North America on May 21, 2021. The company also produced the film Penguin Bloom, starring Naomi Watts and Andrew Lincoln, directed by Glendyn Ivin, based on the true story of the Bloom family from the book of the same name by Bradley Trevor Greive. It premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival and was released in Australia cinemas on January 21, topping the box office for its opening weekend, and in other key countries, including the United States by Netflix on January 27.

It was announced on February 22, that the company was adapting Jessica Knoll's novel Luckiest Girl Alive in partnership with Picturestart for film at  Netflix. It will star Mila Kunis, and be directed by Mike Barker.

On the television side, Made Up Stories produced the recent HBO miniseries The Undoing, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, which debuted on October 25, 2020, and became the most viewed show for the network in 2020. The company also produced the Amazon Prime Video thriller drama series Tell Me Your Secrets, released on February 19, created by Harriet Warner, and starring Lily Rabe, Amy Brenneman, Hamish Linklater, and Enrique Murciano. They also produced the new Hulu hit series, Nine Perfect Strangers, based on the book by Liane Moriarity. The series, written by David E. Kelley, stars Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy, along with numerous other high-profile actors, debuted on August 18th with the premiere quickly becoming the most-watched Hulu original ever.

The company is currently in production on two Netflix series. The first project, Pieces of Her, based on the book by Karin Slaughter, features an all-female creative team including director Minkie Spiro and executive producers Lesli Linka Glatter, Charlotte Stoudt and Bruna Papandrea. The show stars Toni Collette and Bella Heathcote. The second project is the six-episode anthology series, Anatomy of a Scandal, based on the book by Sarah Vaughan, created and written by David E. Kelley and Melissa James Gibson, and directed by SJ Clarkson. The show is being produced in partnership with 3Dot Productions' Liza Chasin, and stars Sienna Miller, Michelle Dockery, Rupert Friend, and Naomi Scott.

Additionally, the company is producing Long Slow Exhale for Spectrum Originals and BET, along with showrunner Pam Veasey, director Anton Cropper, and co-executive producer John Dove. The basketball drama series stars Rose Rollins. The company also produced Roar for Apple TV+, based on the book by Cecelia Ahern and adapted as an anthology series by Glow creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch. Produced in partnership with Blossom Films, the series will star Nicole Kidman, Cynthia Erivo, Merritt Wever, and Alison Brie. And the company is also producing the genre-bending series Wolf LIke Me for Peacock in the US and Stan in Australia. The show is created and directed by Abe Forsythe, and is starring Josh Gad and Isla Fisher. The company is also producing the seven-part dramatic series, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, based on Holly Ringland's debut novel, for Amazon Prime Video. The show is created and written by Sarah Lambert, directed by Glendyn Ivin, and stars Sigourney Weaver.

Productions

Films

Television Series

Projects in Development

 Film adaptation of the thriller novel As Long As We Both Shall Live by JoAnn Chaney
 Adaptation of the historical epic The Lost Queen by Signe Pike for television
 TV series based on the Jessica Knoll novel The Favorite Sister
 A limited TV series on Tina Brown based on her book The Vanity Fair Diaries
 Film adaptations of the YA fantasy books Stepsister and Poisoned by Jennifer Donnelly with Lynette Howell Taylor's 51 Entertainment
 The multi-generational novel The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty
 TV adaption of Christina Baker Kline's new book The Exiles
 TV show based on Greer Macallister's historical thriller Woman 99  with Nina Dobrev
 TV adaption of Marie Lu's Warcross with John Cameron
 TV adaption of Christopher Paolini's first adult novel, the sci-fi space opera To Sleep in a Sea of Stars with Snoot Entertainment
TV adaption of Elizabeth Acevedo's dual-narrative YA novel, Clap When You Land
Film adaptation of Gordon Reece's debut novel, Mice, in partnership with Nicole Kidman's Blossom Films
Film adaptation of Erin French's memoir, Finding Freedom: A Cook's Story; Remaking Life From Scratch
TV adaption of Kirsten Miller's upcoming novel, The Change, in partnership with Raelle Tucker

References

Television production companies of the United States
Film production companies of the United States
Mass media companies established in 2017
Made Up Stories

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


When management restructuring at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram eliminated my position (senior editor/reader advocate) in April 2008, I turned to freelancing -- a path many journalists fantasize about and a natural path for me. Retirement's not an option, and that's OK. I love my work too much to retire from it. And anyway, like Jack Benny, I'm still only 39.
I offer skills, knowledge and a network built during a rewarding journalism career that began in 1966. Using those assets for clients, whether in ink on paper or in cyberspace, has introduced me to new dimensions of writing, editing and crafting coverage.
Journalists love nothing more than to help people, and helping folks meet communications needs is what I love most about freelancing. If you or your company needs outside expertise with external or internal communications, I'd welcome an opportunity to help.
Reporting and editing at The Dallas Morning News, Denver Post, St. Petersburg Times, Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Management experience as managing editor then executive editor of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.
Op-ed articles, letters to editor, news features, magazine articles, coverage analysis and strategy, news releases, news kits, newsletters, newsletter analysis and development, issues research, media contact/navigation, Web/blog items, speeches. And I cook pretty well.
Society of Professional Journalists, Online News Association, Organization of News Ombudsmen (past member), Native American Journalists Association, National Conference of Editorial Writers (past member), Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. Former member of Associated Press Managing Editors and the American Society of Newspaper Editors.
American Airlines Publishing, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Fort Worth Business Press, Tarrant County College District, Balcom Agency, Star-Telegram, University of Texas at Arlington.
Reading and writing hold special places of honor in Cherokee culture and history. And no champion of literacy tops Sequoyah, top left, as far as I'm concerned. A mixed-blood Cherokee, as I am, Sequoyah invented the Tsalagi syllabary -- a system that created 86 symbols for the syllables in the Tsalagi language. Sequoyah's syllabary was adopted by the Tsalagi nation in 1821. In months, thousands of Cherokees could read and write their own language. Attaining literacy took most about two weeks. Sequoyah ranks among the Western hemisphere's most brilliant forces for human advancement.
Literacy made it possible to publish the first Native American newspaper -- and the first bilingual newspaper in the Western hemisphere: The Cherokee Phoenix and Indian Advocate, which is published to this day. Launched on Feb. 28, 1828, in New Echota, Ga., and circulated internationally, the Phoenix was guided powerfully by its first editor, Elias Boudinot (Buck Oowatie), top right, a well-educated Cherokee with a strong sense of justice and social conscience. He crusaded against the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and many other injustices but also recognized the need to cooperate with the U.S. federal government. Boudinot was a brave editor, but eventually resigned to protest the tribal council's intolerance of "diversified views." One of their complaints about his writing is one we hear today: Keep reporters' opinion out of the news columns.


Twitter is a powerful tool for rainmaking relationships.
When a relationship management or "rainmaking" conversation turns to Twitter, I can always expect to hear at least 2 of the following 3 questions from folks who have just begun to seriously consider the possibilities Twitter presents for business development and building Rainmaking Relationships™.
How do I increase my followers on Twitter?
How do I generate business leads?
How do I close more deals?
Use your real name, company name or other name for which you want to be identified as your "Twitter handle." Stay far away from letter/number combinations. Twitter presents a great opportunity to develop brand awareness … do not waste it.
Use sites like www.exectweet.com and lextweets.com to identity key decision makers who use Twitter. Pay attention (a.k.a.., listen) to the Twitter streams of thought-leaders and power brokers in your industry.
Complete your Twitter profile bio. Include your areas of expertise plus a hobby, fun fact or favorite sports team. You want to show that you are a credible person with "personality" and also inspiring interest and conversation.
Create a custom Twitter background that highlights your expertise, uses a dominate color and has vivid imagery (e.g., high quality photo or logo).
Use the URL link in your profile to direct your "Tweeple" to a custom Twitter page on your website just for your followers or link to your fully optimized LinkedIn profile. If you don't have a fully optimized LinkedIn profile, make creating one a priority … regardless of your industry. I have yet to find an industry for which LinkedIn is not useful.
Create several "top 10" lists of tips related to your industry and area of expertise – each tip 100 characters or less (allows 4 easy retweeting). Schedule the delivery of your Tweets using www.Hootsuite.com. Use a hashtag (i.e., pound sign + a keyword) to connect each "top 10" list for easy searching via www.search.twitter.com or the Tweetdeck.com software.
After running one series of your "top 10" tips, start to follow the thought-leaders and decision makers you identified in #2. Observe their twitter stream and look for opportunities to add value to the "conversation" in real- time. You can add value by tweeting tips, resources or ideas.
Use both industry jargon and plain English in your tweets. You want to show that you have a deep knowledge of your industry and can also community effectively with folks who are not industry insiders.
Engage the tweeple you are following in conversation by using the @ symbol and their twitter handle.
Always stay away from profanity, gender based jokes or race-based jokes.
BONUS … review #11 again and again and again … this is the real key to success on Twitter.
Your Twitter page and Twitter stream are powerful branding tools and resources for generating leads and building relationships. Don't waste them.
I'd love to hear your top tips for generating business and building Rainmaking Relationships™ with Twitter. Feel free to join the conversation in the comment section of this post.


You are here: Home / Welcome Fellow Nester Fan!
I think my best description of this 20 page e-Book is "Motivation meets Renovation!" I hope you'll find it very encouraging and that it helps you to take advantage of the underlying life advantages a remodeling project can bring! After you've given it a read, please come back often! There are hundreds of posts here amongst the pages of Remodeling Guy and more is added daily!
The process is the same as it was for The Nester's book. Just fill out your information below and you'll be signed-up not only for the book, but also for the free Remodeling Guy Newsletter.


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Home Reviews Album Reviews Emily Wolfe: Outlier
Emily Wolfe: Outlier
On her new album, Wolfe merges well-crafted rock songwriting with pop production — and gets personal.
Mike Ethan Messick
Emily Wolfe
Crow's Feet Records
Contrary to the contrarian cliché that some people have thrown about since the disco era, rock 'n' roll isn't dead. But in its modern state, it's a little niche, a little anonymous, a little harder to get traction in if you didn't get your foot in the door prior to 2000 or so. Give or take a Jack White or Dave Grohl here and there, bands capable of headlining festivals are still obscurities to the average folks. There's no lack of good rock music being made, but it could use a hero, a personality that could bridge sub-genres and grab listeners by the ears, heart, gut, whatever it takes. This may sound like hyperbole, but when you listen to Austin's Emily Wolfe, it's hard not to feel like she could be just what it needs.
Speaking of rock heroes, Wolfe doesn't sound anything like Bruce Springsteen, but she brings him to mind in how she synthesizes so many influences so adeptly — and with enough of a personal stamp – that in the end she mostly just sounds like herself. But you can detect hints of Blondie's arch pop smarts, Joan Jett's jagged guitar-rock edge, the Go-Go's bubbly sense of melodic momentum, the riffs-and-beats backbone of modern rock standouts like the Black Keys, and any number of other sparks that made it into her mix consciously or otherwise. The sounds go big, the arrangements sometimes go larger-than-life (even more so than her already excellent 2019 self-titled work), but the songwriting and vocals still manage an air of vulnerability, relatability, a dose of the humility of an artist who just recently quit the day job.
Wolfe's out-and-proud identity might inform her music, but it doesn't pigeonhole it. The smolder of the lead-off track, "No Man" ("I don't need no man/To tell me how to work my machine"), could be a double-entendre or a more universal kiss-off to anyone who's ever subjected anyone to a round of mansplaining; the romantic sweep of "Something Better" or "Vermillion Park" could soundtrack whatever kind of romance you've got in mind. Though her typical live approach is stripped-down power trio, with Wolfe providing all the guitar firepower a touring band could hope for (it's not for nothing that she landed an Epiphone signature-model guitar back when this album was still in pre-production), on record she supplements her riffage with some tasteful layers of synth and vocal processing.
There may always be a place in rock heaven for garage-band purists, but Wolfe & Co.'s poppier affections consistently seem as sincere as they are well-placed, less like too-sweet empty calories and more like extra meat on the bone. The clarion-call synth riff and near-militant percussion of "Never Gonna Learn" and sunny handclap effects on "Vermillion Park" feel entirely elemental, not a tacked-on plea for the sort of radio play it'd seem foolish to not give songs this catchy and universal. "LA/NY" comes swaggering out of the gate almost as opulent as a Lady Gaga single but still finds its root in a grinding guitar solo and, like the rest of the album, gets as much of its wings out of Wolfe's vocal approach as anything. Shifting adroitly between a warm, vulnerable, lyric-transcending coo and a more-direct keen akin to Chrissie Hynde with a slight Austin twang, in the end she wields it just as skillfully as her guitar. And in the end, it might be the kind of niche-busting instrument of unity that modern rock & roll is starved for.
"I got no secrets, but you never know what I'll do next," she intones on "No Man," with just a touch more confrontational growl than she usually indulges. Maybe we don't, but still … can't wait.
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Stupid Vet Tricks
Ollie had to go back to the vet today. He was falling off his perch a lot, was breathing hard, and seemed lethargic. Mommy took him this morning and this time, she asked if he could see a different vet.
She's glad she did. A nice lady saw Ollie (she thought he was quite handsome), and mommy said she was much more thorough than the other one. This vet suspects that all of the bacteria from Ollie's kidney infection isn't gone and it's "going crazy in there," so she gave him a steroid shot, an antibiotic shot, and put him back on the Baytril for 2 weeks.
This vet also said that Ollie probably "overextended" his hurt leg, and a recent crash landing he had didn't help. The nerve inflammation is going to be extremely slow to heal – 6 months or more, so she urged mommy to be patient with this part of Ollie's recovery. It turns out that nerves only heal at a rate of about a millimeter a month, which is why nerve damage/inflammation/problems take so darn long to heal. So Ollie's supposed to stay in his smaller cage with low perches for a while. He's going back for a follow up in a week.
Another thing this vet said is that Ollie's too skinny. She said his weight has been steady since he got sick, but he's at 27 grams, and she'd like to see him back up to 33 grams. Looks like there's gonna be a lot of millet and honey stick treats coming (I know all of our parakeet friends are letting out a HUGE cheer for that!). Between Ollie needing to fatten up and being required to stay still on low perches, it seems he needs to be like this over the next few weeks:
So Ollie had a bit of a relapse (not a full one, thank goodness), but we're hoping he's back on track. Mommy's just really frustrated because she called the other vet about 3 weeks ago and told him she didn't think Ollie was completely on the road to recovery, and he completely blew her off. She said she's not threatening to hurt anybody, but the thought of keeping some rope in her trunk to string up people that give her the run around like Shelob did Frodo Baggins is an amusing thought. Methinks her irritation level is climbing. And I can understand why. Not listening to her is one thing, but making Ollie pay for it because you "ain't got time for that" when she calls is ridiculous. It doesn't help that daddy needs a root canal next week, and her work is at peak volume right now. Our poor parronts. Please pray for them, and Ollie too!
That's an update on us. Zack and I are ok and trying to keep an eye on this crazy flock. It's just one day at a time. That's the best way to do it.
Take care. I hope you have a Happy Friday and a great weekend.
I'm Recovering!
Hi everybody, it's Ollie here. I wanted to update the blog myself so I could thank each and every one of you for your care and concern while I've been recuperating from my illness this past week. Kidney infections suck, but thankfully the antibiotic is working and I'm recovering. I'm eating, singing, and more energetic each day. Hooray!
The antibiotic is yukky, but it does seem to be helping a lot. I'm getting better and stronger each day. I should finish it in a couple of days, and that will be good.
Thanks again to all of you here and on Twitter for your prayers, winghugs, care, concern, and checking in. I really appreciate it. You're all such great friends! We'll certainly keep you posted.
I hope you have a great end of the week and a wonderful weekend.
They don't make scary movies like they used to. They're all blood, guts, and gore these days. Ugh, who wants that? I like the older movies with a psychological twist to them. Things like The Shining (which daddy is watching now, and is distracting mommy quite a lot) and the old Halloween movies. Sure, Michael Myers stabs people, but they're stupid people. And the question is, why does he stab the people he stabs? They all have a connection to his messed up family. Mommy and daddy also like Salem's Lot, but that's impossible to find on video. Now that was a vampire movie!
Okay, I have to admit that there's another reason why I like Halloween. It means the holidays are next! Thanksgiving and then my all time favorite - Christmas! And then my birthday on December 31. Mommy and daddy get more days off work in November and December, and there's so much fun and celebration. Food, family, friends, and fun. What more could a bird want?
And in other news, Ollie is improving. He was one sick bird on Tuesday, but he's better today. His appetite is up, and he's much more active than he was before. There's still room for improvement, but he's halfway through his antibiotic and is showing good progress. Considering it's a kidney infection, it's going to take more time than my sinus infection took. But he's plugging along really well. And he's fighting that medication like a champ. Mommy still gets it in him, but he's giving her more of a run for it every day. Go Ollie!
Finally, my cozy corner is back! Mommy found it stuck in her pants on Thursday. Silly mommy.
That's all for today. I hope you all have a great week.
Hi everybody, it's Chloe here with an update on life in our nest.
First up is Ollie. He's slowly improving and seems to be getting stronger each day. He's moving about easier, and his energy is increasing. It's hard to tell if he's eating more overall - it didn't look like he ate much while the parronts were at work, but he has eaten more tonight, which pleased mommy. He's also singing a little more too. He still needs plenty of rest, but he isn't sleeping as much. We know he's adjusting to the medication, but it's obviously helping. We do appreciate your care and concern, and will certainly keep you updated on his progress.
So keep Ollie in your prayers. We hope he'll recover as well as Zack has.
Zack, by the way, is magnificent. He's definitely made a full and complete recovery. And the mystery of the missing cozy corner is solved. Mommy found it stuck in the leg of her grey pants this morning. That's odd, because she checked those pants twice last week and no cozy corner turned up, but today - whoop, there it is. Zack was very pleased.
As for me, I'm just trying to keep my eye on everybody. Mommy is recovering from her infection, and daddy is doing good. Both of them are still busy at work, of course - that's normal, but they're okay.
Thanks again to all of you for being such great friends. We'll keep you posted on Ollie's progress, and on all of the adventures here as well.
Have a Happy Friday tomorrow and a great weekend.
Ollie Update
Hi all, it's Sherri (mommy) here. I'm blogging for the birds to give you an update on Ollie. I was getting ready to leave for work this morning and noticed that he was dragging his left foot behind him, and seemed to be in pain. I called the vet, and they said to bring him in, as they're booked all week but wanted to see him.
I'm glad I went. The vet weighed him, and he lost 5 grams since his check up. That alarmed the vet more than the leg. He checked Ollie out and said that there's no leg or foot injury at all. It turns out that the kidney sits on the nerve to the left leg, and it's infected.
Of course, I freaked out, but the vet assured me that I caught it early. There's no tumor or physical damage, and he said this can be cleared up with antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory medication. He gave Ollie a shot and put him on 0.06 cc's of Baytril for 10 days, starting tomorrow. He also recommended helping Ollie stay still as much as possible to avoid discomfort. We've reconfigured his perches so he won't need to move around so much until he feels better.
I sure am glad I noticed Ollie limping this morning, because an infection never crossed my mind! So friends, please be sure to keep a close eye on your birds. If they seem to be sleeping more, injured, not as active, or just acting out of sorts, get it checked out ASAP. Don't wait! Birds hide illness, and by the time you notice they're sick, they could have been ill for days. They're so small that illness can hit hard and fast. But being small means that the treatment works pretty quick, too.
We'll certainly keep you posted on Ollie's progress, here and through Twitter. He's getting great treatment and right now, we just want him to get plenty of rest. I've had a kidney infection – those suckers hurt and wear you out!
Thanks for being such great friends, and for your care and concern.
Sherri (mommy)
Fall Housecleaning
Mommy and daddy have been working hard to clean the house the past
couple of weeks! Daddy went out in the yard to clean up, rake, trim branches, digging up weeds, and do some watersealing on the back steps outside. Mommy's been scrubbing the kitchen and bathrooms, cleaning the floors, dusting and polishing furniture, tidying up the house, and giving our cages a good clean up. The house looks (and smells) really good! They call it their "fall housecleaning," and I like it!
I've heard humans say that they're either the cooking or the cleaning type. Our parronts are definitely the cleaning type. The house is always neat as a pin. They're good about keeping it clean and organized. Even Ollie and I are pretty clean, when it comes to birds. We try to keep our "messes" localized to one spot. Chloe, on the other hand, doesn't mind some mess. She'll throw some seed on the floor of her cage on purpose just to make a little mess. It drives mommy crazy, especially when Chloe gives a good shovel right after mommy finishes a cleaning and takes the trash out. It's amusing to watch mommy whale "no, sweetheart!!" as the seed goes flying. Cage cleaning night is also comedy night in our home.
Do your parronts like to cook or clean? Or are they better balanced (some would call it "sane") and do they do a bit of both? Watch them to find out. It can be interesting – and quite amusing!
That's all today. Take care and have a great rest of the week.
Decreasing My Anxiety
I've been so worried about my big brother this past week! Zack got an upper respiratory infection last weekend, and today is his 7th day on his antibiotic. He's doing better, but he just got his voice back yesterday. So I had to keep an eye on him and call the parronts if we needed anything. It's good to see him doing better. I know we've all been worried about him, and it was such a relief when mommy and daddy came home from supper last night and he belted out his first screams in a week! We all felt better hearing that. And Zack's energy has been increasing each day. He's been a lot more active today, and more like himself. He still has 3 more days of medication left, but overall it seems to be working.
Mommy was worried about me too, because I was so nervous about Zack. I was pretty high strung, and she was afraid I'd make myself sick worrying. She said that happened with her parakeets once before - one of the males got sick, and the female worried so much that she got sick too. But they care for us well, and I'm doing okay now. I've been more relaxed this weekend, now that I see Zack improving. I believe mommy, daddy, and Ollie are feeling better and their anxiety is decreasing too. All in all, the whole flock is doing better.
Thanks once again to all of our friends for your care and concern! Mommy and daddy cleaned up the house and did the shopping yesterday, so we've been taking it easy today. It's just what we all needed. Tonight, mommy said we'll pop some popcorn and watch Breaking Bad. It's gonna be fun!
That's all today. I hope you've all had a great weekend and that you have a good week ahead.
Happy Birthday Oliver!
Happy birthday dear Oliver
Happy birthday Ollie! We love you and hope you have a great day!
Daddy, mommy, Zacchaeus, and Chloe
My First Story!
Hi everybody! Well, it started out as a joke on Twitter one night when I was bored and throwing out amusing tag lines for stories. Guess what? The sci-fi story stuck and mommy helped me write it. She posted it on Writing.com today to see what kind of reaction this tongue-in-beak story gets.
Mommy's actually written several stories pondering what adventures we have while she and daddy are at work every day. This is the fourth story in what she calls "The Avian Adventures Series." She's considered putting them together into one volume when she has enough stories to do that. Now, pray tell, how many stories would that be? Given that these silly adventures average 3-4 pages a piece, I'd say a lot.
Well, I'm proud of us having worked together on this one and now I proudly bring you an early draft of Avian Aliens!
Avian Aliens!
Zack gnawed at the wood log toy in his cage, determined to break through it's core. He didn't know what secrets lay inside the toy that mommy jokingly called "the monolith," but he was determined to find out. And if it was just wood, finishing it off was a surefire way to get a brand new toy in here once she and daddy got home from work.
"Zack, can you keep it down?" Chloe asked from the back of her cage, where she snuggled against her cozy corner. "I'm trying to get in a power nap before mommy and daddy get home from work."
"I'm almost there!" Zack said, continuing his voracious chewing. "Soon, we shall behold the secrets that lie within the wooden toy."
Ollie emitted a series of chirps that sounded like laughter. Zack gave Ollie a warning glare. Ollie squawked and resumed his preening.
"Have at it, big brother," Chloe said, resting her head against her back for a midafternoon nap.
Zack resumed his chewing and was soon surprised when a piece of wood broke off, exposing the center of the toy. He peered inside and saw what looked like a lever in the center of the toy. Curious, Zack grabbed the lever and pulled it with all of the power in his mighty conure beak. A pink light erupted in the room followed by a bang. Zack disappeared and a large, pink parrot with blue eyes appeared in the center of the room.
"Well, I'll be darn," Chloe said. "So that's what happens when you get to the center of the wooden chew toy!"
"Greetings, Earth birds!" the pink bird said, raising his foot in a standard salutation. "My name is Eeagor. I am from the planet Orthea."
"It sounds like a pesticide," Ollie said.
Eeagor turned to stare at Ollie. "Ah, a budgie! And a green and yellow too! Those are the finest specimens. You'll make a fine addition to our budgie-bot brigade."
"The budgie-bot brigade? What's that?" Chloe asked.
"We assimilate our finest budgies into a cybernetic avian lifeform that serve as our defenders and protectors. The one you call 'Ollie' is the best specimen we've seen in all the worlds we've visited."
"Thank you," Ollie said, "it's good to be best at something. I'm the littlest one here."
"Young friend, you will soon behold power beyond your wildest dreams," Eeagor said, lifting his foot. Their cage doors opened and Ollie flew into Eeagor's foot. A metallic talon ejected from Eeagor's foot and he poised to poke Ollie with it.
"No! Leave my brother alone!" Chloe screamed. Chloe leaped from their cages in a coordinated attack. Chloe grabbed Eeagor from behind with her wickedly-sharp beak, drawing green blood from his neck.
"Ouch! You wicked little hen!" Eeagor yelled, dropping Ollie and turning to Chloe. She stood tall, her beak open and poised for another strike.
"Wow, I haven't seen her that mad since Zack stepped on her tail!" Ollie said. "Go Chloe! Sock it to him!"
"Come on, pinky! Meet the beak! Say hello to my little friend!" Chloe screamed, her eyes pinpointing and her feathers flaring. Eeagor stared in shock as she charged him, launching across the floor in a blur and jumping headlong into Eeagor. He pounded against the back wall with the force of her hit. They rolled on the floor in a blur of yellow, orange and pink feathers until Chloe pinned Eeagor, pounding him with her beak and breaking open green oozing wounds in his pink feathers. It looked like the battle was won until he emitted a shriek and swung at Chloe with his talon. She knocked against the wall.
"Nobody hurts my sister!" Ollie shouted. "And I'll never be a budgie-bot!" He grabbed Eeagor's foot with his beak and lifted him off the floor, slamming Eeagor against furniture and the floor until the metallic talon broke off.
"No, stop! I yield!" Eeagor screamed as blood dribbled from where the talon broke out of his leg.
Chloe ran back to Eeagor, pinning him to the floor with her foot again. "Who do you think you are, coming here and threatening to turn my baby brother into a cyborg bird?"
"I'm trying to free you from the tyranny of those ugly, wretched bipeds!" Eeagor said, staring at the picture on the wall next to Chloe's cage.
"Those are our parents," Chloe growled as Ollie climbed into Zack's cage, studying the toy for the lever.
Eeagor's blue eyes widened in shock. "But how? You're birds. They're human. That's impossible!"
"We're adopted, you idiot," Ollie said from Zack's cage. "And your time here is over." He pulled the lever in Zack's toy. The pink light erupted again with a flash. Eeagor and his talon were gone, along with the green blood and mess on the floor. Zack reappeared in his cage, looking shocked.
"Oh, thank goodness!" Chloe said, climbing back into her cage and pulling the door closed.
"What just happened?" Zack asked. "I was in the strangest place that had pink birds with blue eyes. They had a horde of cybernetic budgies that tied me with something that looked like mommy's cross stitch yard and carried me through their streets. They said they were taking me to their leader. I was so scared."
"Are you alright?" Chloe asked.
"I'm fine," Zack said, breathing heavy. "Are you both okay?"
"We're fine," Ollie said. "One of their birds got through. He wanted to make me a budgie-bot, but Chloe and I put up a great fight."
Zack cackled. "I've taught both of you well. Thanks for pulling that lever and bringing me back. Zack gave the toy a punch, sending it swinging. The bottom portion of the toy broke off, severing the switch. "Remind me not to pull any switches inside my toys anymore!"
"I don't think we'll have that problem anymore," Ollie said, climbing out of Zack's cage and returning to his own.
They were silent as the garage door lifted, signaling that mommy and daddy had returned home from work. "Hi guys! Did you have a good day?" mommy asked, pulling them from their cage.
"Oh, it looks like Zack finished another toy," daddy said, reaching in to take out the broken wood chew toy. "Goodness, you destroyed that thing! Are you ready for a new toy now, buddy?"
Zack cackled and winked at Chloe and Ollie, who cackled in return. Yes, they were ready for him to have a new toy. One with more fun and fewer surprises this time!
Bad Week!
It's been a bad week here! It started with Ollie molting. Poor fellow lost so many green feathers that we're surprised he has any on his body! Mommy put some molting treatment in his food and that seemed to help him feel better. The molt is slowing down now, and we hope our baby brother is feeling much better.
Then tropical storm Andrea came through, triggering a migraine that plagued mommy on and off for 3 days. Not only that, but it caused mommy and daddy to have sinus problems from blowing in all of that tropical mess and then the grass pollen shot up once the storm passed. And then, to top it all off, mommy and daddy got a virus that just made them feel beat and busted after stressful weeks at work. Mommy had 2 meetings and it was the last week of school for daddy, which was pandemonium.
So Zack and I were the only ones that came out unscathed this week. We've tried to comfort Ollie, mommy and daddy the best we can. They so appreciate our support. We try. We try really hard to be super sweet and comfort them, especially at times like this. That's our job, after all - to love and comfort each other and our human companions. What can I say? We do our best. We must have done alright, because mommy and daddy went by the grocery store earlier and brought home Jiffy Pop. There are no holidays or celebrations, so we must have been good!
That's all today. Thanks goodness it's the weekend. We need it! I hope you have a good one, and that we recover from this week that best us up.