Toy giant Mattel says it "deeply" regrets an error on the packaging of its "Wicked" movie-themed dolls, which mistakenly links toy buyers to a pornographic website.

Kevin Costner applauded former Rep. Liz Cheney and said the Wyoming Republican should be applauded rather than threatened.

The debate over the principles of sound chess play has been an enjoyable conversation that's been going on for centuries. A civilized and essential voice in the debate was Czech-German GM and author Ludek Pachman, born 100 years ago this year.

The last three years have been tough for Fanta Charlotte Dabone, a mother of three from the conflict-battered West African country of Burkina Faso.

Italian authorities say a network of European art forgers who painted fake Warhols, Banksys and Picassos and then tried to sell them to unsuspecting buyers with the help of complicit auction houses has been dismantled.

Britain's Queen Camilla is set to return to public duties Tuesday after missing weekend events commemorating the nation's war dead because she was recovering from a chest infection.

Media magnate Oprah Winfrey insists she was not paid for her work on behalf of Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, saying she personally didn't accept a dime.

Eminem, Boy George, George Clinton, Sheryl Crow, Janet Jackson, the Doobie Brothers, N.W.A. and Alanis Morissette are among the nominees for the 2025 class at the Songwriters Hall of Fame, an eclectic group of rap, rock, hip-hop and pop pioneers.

Artifacts and human remains taken by a Norwegian explorer and anthropologist in the late 1940s are being returned by a museum in Oslo to Chile's remote territory of Easter Island in the mid-Pacific, the Kon-Tiki Museum said Wednesday.

MCE2025: Gold Alumni Special - 3 Payments of $449USD billed 30 days apart

Price: $449.00

MCE2025: Gold Guest Alumni Special - 3 Payments of $449USD billed 30 days apart

Price: $449.00

MASS A-Z Second Location Guide (One payments of $498USD)

Price: $498.00

Consultation with Tim Benson - one payment of $99 USD

Price: $99.00

Advanced Academy 2024 Additional Titanium guest charge, 2 pmts of $499 USD per person, charged 30 days apart

Price: $499.00

Advanced Academy 2024 Additional Titanium Guest Wednesday night Only one payment of $299 USD

Price: $299.00

MCE2025: Gold Plus Registration- 3 Payments of $449USD billed 30 days apart

Price: $449.00

MCE2025: Gold Plus Guest Registration- 3 Payments of $449USD billed 30 days apart

Price: $449.00

MCE2025: Titanium Faculty Coach Alumni Special - 3 Payments of $232.50 USD billed 30 days apart

Price: $232.50

OST2024 Columbia, Director, 1 pmt of $792 USD

Price: $792.00

OST2024 Columbia, ALUMNI BONUS PRICING, Staff, 6 pmts $99 USD

Price: $99.00

OST2024 Columbia, Staff, 8 pmts $99 USD

Price: $99.00

Titanium Monthly Membershp

Price: $1,296.00

Description: To receive Gold, Gold Plus, Diamond, or Titanium membership you must first apply and be accepted to the program and then purchase the 'Home Study System' for 3 payments of $499 USD (30 days apart). With your Home Study System you receive 3 free months of Gold Membership. *Do not purchase any MASS products without first applying to become a member at:?https://www.musicacademysuccess.com/apply/
If you purchase memberships without having your application approved, you will not be allowed to join the program.

Required For Titanium Membership: Must gross at least $25,000 USD per month to apply.

?

• All the benefits of Gold AND Gold Plus AND Diamond membership (listed below) PLUS:
• Group Zoom video coaching with Marty Fort every?3 weeks discussing high level music academy?concepts and business ventures outside of the?music academy industry. Seven-figure sessions for seven-figure (& aspiring seven-figure) thinkers!
• Block out two ZIP CODES as long as you’re a Titanium member.?
• One free seat at the annual Advanced Academy (sometimes as presenter, sometimes as auditor). ?No need to participate in contests or pay full rate. Bring guest for discounted rate of 4 payments of $199, each 30 days apart.
• Elite Closed / Private Titanium Facebook Group with DIRECT answers to some questions from Marty (not his staff).
• Two 911 Fifteen minute calls with Marty every year.

MASS Diamond Monthly Membership

Price: $399.00

Description: To receive Gold, Gold Plus, Diamond, or Titanium membership you must first apply and be accepted to the program and then purchase the 'Home Study System' for 3 payments of $499 USD (30 days apart). With your Home Study System you receive 3 free months of Gold Membership. *Do not purchase any MASS products without first applying to become a member at:?https://www.musicacademysuccess.com/apply/
If you purchase memberships without having your application approved, you will not be allowed to join the program.

Diamond monthly coaching members receive:

DIAMOND MEMBERSHIP (Includes all Gold and Gold Plus level benefits also, listed below)

A. Live monthly Gold and bi-monthly Gold Plus member group coaching call where you can ask me questions about your business.

B. Audio archive of our monthly Q&A calls

C. CDs of the call of the month.

D. The MASS Resource Directory. Full of important info for Academy owners.

E. Special MASS members only monthly newsletter and special reports mailed to your home.

F. Chance to compete in the MASS School of the Year contest and win $1,000 in cash and a full day consultation visit with Marty Fort.

G. Members only Facebook page.

H.?Unlimited MP3 downloads of the Gold and Gold Plus audio archive, including Office Staff Training calls.

I. Block out seven of your most hated competitors.

J. Get an even more reduced rate for annual conference registrations.

K.? Monthly Office Staff Training call where you and your staff can ask questions of Marty Fort and his office staff.

L.? One monthly semi-private (2-3 schools) coaching call with Marty Fort to get personalized coaching for your school.

M.? Closed Diamond Facebook page just for Diamond members to discuss advanced topics.

N.? Wholesale printing and shipping pricing of the MASS manuals as they are updated for as long as you are a current member.

The MASS Gold, Gold +, Diamond & Titanium membership fees are non refundable.

Gold Plus Monthly Membership

Price: $198.00

Description: To receive Gold, Gold Plus, Diamond, or Titanium membership you must first apply and be accepted to the program and then purchase the 'Home Study System' for 3 payments of $499 USD (30 days apart). With your Home Study System you receive 3 free months of Gold Membership. *Do not purchase any MASS products without first applying to become a member at:?https://www.musicacademysuccess.com/apply/
If you purchase memberships without having your application approved, you will not be allowed to join the program.

Gold + monthly coaching members receive:

GOLD + MEMBERSHIP (Includes all Gold level benefits also, listed below)

A. Live monthly Gold and bi-monthly Gold Plus member group coaching call where you can ask me questions about your business.

B. Audio archive of our monthly Q&A calls

C. CDs of the call of the month.

D. The MASS Resource Directory. Full of important info for Academy owners.

E. Special MASS members only monthly newsletter and special reports mailed to your home.

F. Chance to compete in the MASS School of the Year contest and win $1,000 in cash and a full day consultation visit with Marty Fort.

G. Members only Facebook page.

H.?Unlimited MP3 downloads of the Gold and Gold Plus audio archive, including Office Staff Training calls.

I. Block out four of your most hated competitors.

J. Get a reduced rate for annual conference registrations.

K.? Monthly Office Staff Training call where you and your staff can ask questions of Marty Fort and his office staff.

L.??Wholesale printing and shipping pricing of the MASS manuals as they are updated for as long as you are a current member.

The MASS Gold, Gold +, Diamond & Titanium membership fees are non refundable.

Gold Monthly Membership

Price: $99.00

To receive Gold, Gold +, Diamond, or Titanium membership you must first apply and be accepted to the program and then purchase the 'Home Study System' for 3 payments of $499 USD (30 days apart). With your Home Study System you receive 3 free months of Gold Membership. *Do not purchase any MASS products without first applying to become a member at:?https://www.musicacademysuccess.com/apply/
If you purchase memberships without having your application approved, you will not be allowed to join the program.

Gold monthly coaching members receive:

GOLD MEMBERSHIP

A. Live monthly Gold, Gold Plus, Diamond and Titanium member call where you can ask me questions about your business.

B. Audio archive of our monthly Q&A calls

C. CDs of the call of the month.

D. The MASS resource directory. Full of important info for Academy owners.

E. Special MASS members only monthly newsletter and special reports mailed to your home.

F. Chance to compete in the MASS School of the Year contest and win $1,000 in cash and a full day consultation visit with Marty Fort.

G. Members only Facebook page where you can network with fellow members in a safe, non-selling environment.

H.??Wholesale printing and shipping pricing of the MASS manuals as they are updated for as long as you are a current member.

The MASS Gold, Gold +, Diamond & Titanium membership fees are non refundable.

Musical Ladder System? Licensing

Price: $99.00

To learn more about the Musical Ladder System? please call 803-917-1434
email info@musicacademysuccess.com or visit http://www.MusicalLadderSystem.com

Musical Ladder System? Licensee Benefits Summary

1. Right to use Trademark

2. Right to use logos

3. Right to use the patent pending
protected science behind the method.

4. Training sessions.

5. IRS contractor session.

6. Done for you marketing items.

7. Musical Ladder System? software

8. Unique portal for your school (no hosting fees)

9. Dedicated customer support for software,
trophy and wristband orders.

10. The latest system and software updates for free.

11. Done for your certificate templates.

12. Access to purchasing the unique Musical Ladder
System? trophies and wristbands.

13. Training to help ensure you will not lose students.

14. Training on how to deal with

15. Training on how to ‘roll’ out the system in your school.

16. 12 month 100% money back guarantee (trophy and wristband purchases not included).

Wristband

Price: $1.29

Trophy Name Plate

Price: $3.95

Name plate for trophy

Defective wristbands and/or trophies will be replaced at no charge.? If we misspell a student name on a trophy nameplate, we will replace it free of charge.? If you misspell a student’s name when you submit it to us for engraving, you can purchase a new nameplate for $3.95 on the Musical Ladder Website.?

MLS Display Trophies Levels 1-6 $102.94

Price: $102.94

Music Academy Success System-SIX Payments of $198.00 USD

Price: $198.00

New releases since 1990. If you like Christian Rap, Punk, Grunge, Hip Hop, etc. you may find it in this collection or our contemporary music collection. Review CD's and search the Bible while listening.

Learn how God reveals Himself by leaving evidence all around us, and how He has done so since creation.

Understanding modern vegetarianism and veganism in the Jewish and Christian contexts. It is right to kill and eat animals or use them in ceremonies?

Bible study topics in 2 Thessalonians, Chapter 1 cover Faith Vindicated. The questions are designed for personal or group inductive style Bible study and discussion.

Learn the amazingly simple secret to understanding end times prophecy. Find out why we should all be studying and watching, especially now.

Bible study topics in 2 Thessalonians, Chapter 2 cover The Return Of Christ. The questions are designed for personal or group inductive style Bible study and discussion.

Online Christian virtual worship services, with streaming music, Bible teaching, searchable Bible...even an offering. Visit this weekly worship service any time, 24/7.

Bible study topics in 2 Thessalonians, Chapter 3 cover Prayer And Productivity. The questions are designed for personal or group inductive style Bible study and discussion.

Ministry mission, qualifications and responsibilities are covered in the Timothy and Titus Bible studies. The questions are designed for personal or group inductive style Bible study and discussion.

The Outline to the Timothy and Titus Bible studies covers ministry mission, qualifications and responsibilities. The questions are designed for personal or group inductive style Bible study and discussion.

Warnings against false teachers are covered in the 1 Timothy, chapter 1 Bible study. The questions are designed for personal or group inductive style Bible study and discussion.

Edgar Award© Mystery Writers of America. DB here: Some good news for Perplexing Plots. It’s gotten positive reviews in various places; they’re sampled on its Amazon page. Most recently, Geoffrey O’Brien has written a very generous review for the New York Review of Books (February 8, 2024). He has, needless to say, kind words for […]

The Green, Green Grass of Home (1982). David’s health situation has made it difficult for our household to maintain this blog. We don’t want it to fade away, though, so we’ve decided to select previous entries from our backlist to republish. These are items that chime with current developments or that we think might languish […]

Kristin here: The speed with which the news of David’s death, early on the morning of February 29, 2024, spread has amazed me. I expected many responses: condolences, tributes, and most of all stories of how he had affected people’s lives. I didn’t expect the tidal wave of messages and posts and emails that followed. […]

The Shepherdess and the Seven Songs (2020). Since David’s death, this blog has not been updated. I do, however, plan to occasionally re-post old entries if they become relevant to current events in the world of film. I also hope to post new entries as the inspiration strikes me. This entry deals with Mohammad Rasoulof’s […]

KT here: A memorial service for David was held on May 18, 2024. Although many friends and family members traveled to be present, the service was also streamed live for those who could not. For those who were unable to do either, a recording of the service has been posted on Vimeo. The link is […]

David shopping during his first trip to Hong Kong, 1995 Kristin here: By now many of you have watched the recording of David’s May 18th memorial service, linked in the previous entry. Some have written to tell me how moving it was and how many aspects of David’s personal life and career the speakers covered. […]

Back on February 10, less than three weeks before his death, David blogged about the positive reception that Perplexing Plots had had including a nomination for an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America. He didn’t live to learn the result, but it didn’t win. Now, however, comes news that the International Crime Fiction […]

A crowd lined up for a screening at the 2024 Wisconsin Film Festival (Source: Wisconsin Film Festival Facebook) KT here: About a month ago, August 17 to be precise, Variety published an essay by Owen Gleiberman. In it he decries the fact that while national grosses of mainstream films, especially blockbusters, have been recovering from […]

The Zone of Interest (2023)   Yes, another entry on A24. I didn’t expect for this topic to continue as a series, but the indie studio keeps doing intriguing and unusual things that most studios wouldn’t try. I first dealt with A24 because I was interested in the phenomenon of “prestige horror.” It was one […]