Tag: Writing

Magik Theatre Kicks Off 2026–27 Season with ‘If You Give a Mouse a Cookie’

‘If You Give a Mouse a Cookie’ opens Oct. 3 at Magik Theatre. Photo: Magik Theatre, used with permission.

Magik Theatre Kicks Off 2026–27 Season with If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

SAN ANTONIO, TX — Magik Theatre is opening its new season with a beloved treat that will have audiences of all ages laughing, smiling, and demanding more silliness. (Magik Theatre, 2026)

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie marks the official start of Magik’s 2026–27 season. The production opens on Saturday, October 3, with a sweet kickoff party and runs through October 25. Guests can savor Magik’s remarkable renovations, completed just this summer, while enjoying brand-new season ticket options that make it easy to save room for a full slate of acclaimed productions featuring “fun, fantastical friends.”

A Zany, Cause-and-Effect Adventure

Laura Numeroff’s If You Give a Mouse a Cookie has been charming generations since the picture book’s release in 1985. Adapted by Jodi Davidson, Magik’s version recounts the simple tale of a boy whose peaceful afternoon of cookies and comics is interrupted by a mouse whose simple request snowballs into a zany, physical comedy adventure.

“This production is fun, silly, and full of slapstick humor.”

— Pam Ramirez, Director

A professional clown whose resume includes Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus, and studies at the world-renowned Dell’Arte School of Physical Theatre, Ramirez was the perfect choice to lead this production.

“I’m especially thrilled that our production will be filled with physical comedy… The endless funny bits brilliantly executed by Michael Roberts (Mouse) and Christopher Deuter (Boy) will make you giggle for 50 minutes straight.”

— Collin Pittmann, Artistic Director

While the story is famed for its repetition and circularity, Magik’s hour-long production is anything but boring. Ramirez and the company have created a comic book story-within-a-story packed with excitement, suspense, and non-stop energy.

Rejuvenating Magik, All Year Long

Guests who didn’t get a glimpse of Magik’s major renovation over the summer will find even more to love about the theatre. The multimillion-dollar effort includes:

  • Enhanced Accessibility & Safety: Quadrupled ADA-accessible seating, improved entry points, and upgraded security, electrical, and plumbing systems.
  • Modern Comforts: Brand-new theater seats, carpet, and HVAC systems.
  • Fresh New Look: Brightly painted upper and lower lobbies, with main exterior doors wrapped in colorful signage marking where the outside world ends and Magik begins.

What’s Next in the 2026–27 Lineup?

Joining Mouse and Boy later this season are the Grinch, Frog and Toad, Pinocchio, Charlotte the Spider, the Cat in the Hat, and many more beloved characters.

  • Musical Lovers Subscription: Enjoy all four season musicals: How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Year with Frog and Toad, Pinocchio (a collaboration with OPERA San Antonio), and Seussical the Musical.
  • Full Season Pass: Secure seats to all four musicals plus If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Charlotte’s Web in Magik’s biggest season yet.
  • School & Educational Groups: Curriculum-connected student matinee performances run October 1–23. Contact the theatre directly to reserve your school’s spot.

Special Events & Add-On Experiences

🎈 Opening Night “Party in the Park”

  • When: Saturday, Oct. 3 | Party at 3:30 p.m. • Show at 5:00 p.m.
  • Where: Hemisfair Park
  • Details: Celebrate the first performance with a free, cookie-filled party in partnership with Hemisfair. Enjoy a live DJ set, themed crafts, and special treats. Concessions will feature specially wrapped celebration cookies available for purchase throughout the run.

(Note: The party is free to the public; show admission requires a ticket.)

🎟️️ Backstage Experience Add-On

  • Cost: $20 per person (Available after every performance, excluding special event nights)
  • Includes:
    • Onstage meet-and-greet and photo opportunities with the cast.
    • A 15-minute guided behind-the-scenes tour of the set, props, and rehearsal space led by Magik Theatre staff.
    • A sweet treat to cap off the experience.

🎂 Birthday Parties at Magik

  • Cost: $160
  • Includes: Main stage show admission, a complimentary birthday ticket, ribbon, lobby signage, a merch gift, a specialty drink or popcorn, and a personal cast shoutout during the post-show Q&A. Email theatre to book.

Special Access Performances

  • Educator Appreciation Day: Sunday, Oct. 4 at 3:00 p.m. – Educators and school administrators receive one free ticket with valid I.D., plus 20% off additional tickets for family and friends.
  • Pay-What-You-Wish: Sunday, Oct. 11 at 3:00 p.m. – Donation-based performance supporting theatre accessibility for all. Tickets are available at the door on show day.
  • Sensory-Friendly Performance: Saturday, Oct. 17 at 10:00 a.m. – Designed for individuals on the autism spectrum or with sensory sensitivities. Features a relaxed, judgment-free environment with adjusted lighting and sound.
  • ASL-Interpreted Performance: Saturday, Oct. 17 at 2:00 p.m. – Features Robert Cardoza, San Antonio’s primary American Sign Language theatre interpreter.

Plan Your Visit

Located in the heart of Hemisfair Park, families can catch a show, explore Yanaguana Garden, grab a bite at nearby restaurants, and make unforgettable memories.

  • Box Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Location: 420 S Alamo, San Antonio, TX 78205
  • Phone: (210) 227-2751
  • Ticketing: Single tickets, flex passes, and season subscriptions are available online, by phone, or at the door. Group rates are available for parties of 10 or more.

(Note: Children under 2 occupying a seat or car/booster seat require a general admission ticket.)

About Magik Theatre

Established in 1994, Magik Theatre is a professional theatre for young audiences. Its mission is to create theatrical experiences that ignite imagination, spark curiosity, inspire empathy, and foster a lifetime love of learning in young people.

Photo: Magik Theatre

Building a Reliability Culture in the Trades: A Guide by Gerard Wood

‘Only Tradies Improve Reliability’ is Gerard Wood’s new book on effective trades culture. Photo: Amazon

Book Spotlight: Only Tradies Improve Reliability – Effective Trades Culture

By Gerard Wood

In every workshop and on every job site, one truth determines whether equipment thrives or fails: reliability is built by tradies who take pride in their work. But in too many workplaces, that pride is buried under weak culture, rushed decisions, and invisible standards that slowly erode both performance and job satisfaction. (Amazon, 2026)

In Only Tradies Improve Reliability, Gerard Wood, former tradie, maintenance leader, and author of Simplifying Mining Maintenance, reveals the practical, culture-driven routines that transform ordinary maintenance teams into reliability powerhouses. Drawing on four decades of real-world experience, he shows leaders and tradies how to build a culture where quality becomes visible, accountability becomes natural, and reliability improves faster than any technical program could.

What You’ll Discover Inside

  • Spotting the Invisible: Why most failures aren’t caused by tradies who “don’t know” or “don’t care,” but by tradies operating in a culture where they “don’t see,” and how to fix it permanently through simple routines that sharpen the eye for quality.
  • The Leader’s Role: How leaders create the culture, and why no reliability strategy works unless the tradies executing it feel ownership, pride, and trust.
  • Empowering the Trades: How tradies can dramatically improve their satisfaction and impact, even in tough workplaces, by focusing on quality, feedback, and craftsmanship.
  • The Power of Proactive Care: Why proactive maintenance is always cheaper, easier, and more fulfilling than the chaos caused by allowing small defects to become large breakdowns.

Only Tradies Improve Reliability is more than a maintenance book. It’s a blueprint for restoring respect, pride, and craftsmanship in the trades, and for building workplaces where reliability improves quickly, costs fall naturally, and people genuinely want to stay.

Ready to transform your job site’s culture and performance? Grab your copy of Only Tradies Improve Reliability today.

About the Author

During his engineering career, Gerard Wood became passionate about two things: practical asset management and quality work by tradies. After 40 years in maintenance, starting as a tradie, leading asset management across entire businesses, and helping companies sustainably improve reliability, he has seen firsthand what really drives performance. Spoiler alert: it’s not reports, dashboards, or meetings. It’s skilled people doing the right work, the right way. That’s the engine room of reliability.

Through decades of helping sites lift their game, Gerard came to a simple realization: nothing improves reliability faster than quality trades work backed by practical, no-nonsense maintenance leadership. That is the heartbeat of his coaching and his books, Simplifying Mining Maintenance and Only Tradies Improve Reliability. He keeps it sharp, straight-talking, and always shares a few laughs along the way.

Gerard’s mission for this book is ambitious: to positively impact 1 million tradies, helping them gain greater job satisfaction, feel proud to be part of a successful team, and drive better business performance. Realizing that consulting alone has a limited reach, he turned to media, books, and online platforms to share his 40 years of hard-earned experience with a global audience.

New Digital Releases: Shadow Force & Battle Cabin

Battle Cabin is one of two movies being released in digital this September 29. Photo: Lionsgate, used with permission.

Digital Release Alert

Movie night just got an upgrade! Two action-packed thrillers are heading to digital platforms on September 29, 2026. Whether you are in the mood for a post-apocalyptic survival story or a high-stakes espionage chase, here is everything you need to know about this week’s biggest releases from Lionsgate. (EG PR, 2026)

🏕️ Battle Cabin

  • Release Date: September 29, 2026 (Digital)
  • Genre: Action, Thriller
  • Rating: R (for violence and some language)
  • Runtime: 100 minutes

Synopsis

In the wake of a massive global attack, the world has become a brutal, lawless landscape where electricity, government, and civility are distant memories. When Kellan is forced to venture outside his secure homestead to save his wife, he is met by a wave of murderous thieves with a connection to his past. His family’s survival now depends on a brilliant battle plan and an unlikely alliance with a hardened warrior.

Cast & Crew

  • Starring: Josh McKenzie, Delaney Tabron, Michael Hurst, Kali Kopae, Rama Marrow, Nell Fisher, Marshall Napier
  • Directed By: Aaron Falvey
  • Written By: Justin Eade

Technical Specs: Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1 | Subtitles: English SDH, French, Latin American Spanish | CC: Yes

Where to Stream: Fandango at Home, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Google Play.

🕶️ Shadow Force

  • Release Date: September 29, 2026 (4K, Digital)
  • Genre: Action, Thriller
  • Rating: R (for violence, and language throughout)
  • Runtime: 104 minutes

Synopsis

Kyrah (Kerry Washington) and Issac (Golden Globe nominee Omar Sy) were once the leaders of a multinational special forces group called Shadow Force. They broke the rules by falling in love, and in order to protect their son, they go underground. With a large bounty on their heads, and the vengeful Shadow Force hot on their trail, one family’s fight becomes an all-out war.

Cast & Crew

  • Starring: Kerry Washington, Omar Sy, Mark Strong, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Jahleel Kamara
  • Directed By: Joe Carnahan
  • Written By: Leon Chills and Joe Carnahan

Special Features

  • Shadow Force: Declassified — Audio Commentary with Writer-Director Joe Carnahan and Editor Kevin Hale
  • Making Shadow Force — Ain’t Nothing to F*** With
  • International Waters: The Locations Behind Shadow Force
  • Isla Gunfight: Final Battle Breakdown
  • Couples Therapy: Stunts and Weapons Training
  • Theatrical Trailer

Buy 4K Blu-ray

Technical Specs: Format: 16×9 (2.39:1) Presentation in Dolby Vision | Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English Descriptive Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Audio | Subtitles: Spanish, English, English SDH, French | CC: No

Where to Stream: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play, Fandango, Apple TV

National Coffee Day 2026: Best Freebies, Deals, and Local Events

Bakery Lorraine is launching cold foam for National Coffee Day. Photo: Bakery Lorraine, used with permission.

Celebrate National Coffee Day: Events, Deals, and How to Get Your Free Cup

National Coffee Day is just around the corner on September 29. This year, the holiday lands on a Tuesday, giving us the perfect excuse to skip the morning slump and support our favorite local and independent coffee shops.

Whether you like your java piping hot or ice-cold, there are plenty of exciting local events and nationwide chain deals to help you fuel up.

** Update: Verena Street Coffee/Carl’s Jr **

Verena Street Coffee is celebrating National Coffee Day with 25% off all bagged coffee and 15% off single-cup coffee, available from September 9 through midnight September 29. Coffee lovers can save across the range online, including Pumpkin Smasher, a seasonal fall coffee available for a limited time. (Verena Street Coffee, 2026)

Carl’s Jr. is offering 25% off sips, shakes and sides for My Rewards members in the app. If you’re looking for an afternoon pick me up or a caffeinated sweet treat, try Carl’s Jr.’s iced coffee line up including Black, Vanilla, Mocha, and for a limited time, Churro.
A new coffee to try, the Churro Iced Coffee: Bold Iced coffee brewed from 100% Arabica medium roast beans poured over ice for a crisp, refreshing taste, and sweetened with Churro syrup. (Carl’s Jr, 2026)

Local Spotlights & Events

  • Bakery Lorraine: To celebrate the big day, this fan-favorite bakery is officially launching cold foam on Tuesday. Available in vanilla and marshmallow flavors, you can add it to any espresso or matcha order. (Bakery Lorraine, 2026)
  • The St. Anthony Hotel (“The Art of Coffee” at Esencia): Kick off the celebrations early on Saturday, September 26, from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM. Reservations required. (The St. Anthony Hotel, 2026)
    • 12:00 PM: Welcome coffee cart with tableside pours and latte art.
    • Interactive Session: James Mireles of Pulp Coffee Roasters will lead a workshop on coffee origins, roasting techniques, and flavor profiles.
    • Brunch: Concludes with a four-course brunch curated by two-time James Beard-nominated Executive Chef Leo Davila, paired with specialty coffees.

National Coffee Day Deals & Freebies

Looking to score a freebie/deal on September 29? Here’s a breakdown of what major chains are offering (KSAT, 2026)

BrandThe Deal
7 BrewExclusive Texas-themed sticker for every guest. Try their seasonal pumpkin blondie, salted pumpkin macchiato, or pumpkin house blend.
Circle KFree medium hot or iced coffee via the Circle K app or Inner Circle Reward (no purchase required).
Dunkin’Free medium hot or iced coffee with a purchase for Dunkin’ Rewards members.
Dutch BrosTwo free car coasters with the purchase of two or more drinks (while supplies last).
Einstein Bros. BagelsFree hot or iced coffee with an in-app purchase for rewards members at participating locations.
Frutta BowlsFree 16-ounce cold brew with any purchase of $9.99 or more using code COFFEE25 (in-store and online).
Grubhub$7 off $20 Starbucks delivery orders for Grubhub+ members (valid midnight to 11:55 p.m. local time).
La MadeleineAny regular-sized coffee free with a food purchase for Bonjour Rewards members.
PilotFree hot or iced coffee via the myRewards Plus app.
PJ’s CoffeeFree 16-ounce cold brew when ordered through the PJ’s Coffee app.
Scooter’s CoffeeFree medium brewed coffee via the mobile app from Sept. 27–29 (limit one per day). First 100 customers on Sept. 29 get a free sticker with any purchase.
Shipley Do-NutsFree donut with any coffee purchase for loyalty members (plus, check out their new cold brew donut launching Sept. 26!).
Smoothie KingShow your Starbucks Rewards stars on Sept. 29 (open to 10:30 a.m.) for a free 20-ounce coffee high protein almond mocha or pumpkin smoothie.

** Pro Tip: Make sure to download the respective apps ahead of time, as many of these fantastic deals require rewards membership or app activation to redeem. Check their websites for deal details.

What is your go-to coffee order to celebrate the big day?

Photo: Bakery Lorraine
Photo: The St. Anthony Hotel

San Antonio Luxury Wellness: Loma de Vida Spa Celebrates 10 Years in Hill Country

Loma de Vida’s sky loft tub. Photo: Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort & Spa, used with permission.

Loma de Vida Spa & Wellness, the award-winning luxury retreat at Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort & Spa, is celebrating a decade of relaxation in the Texas Hill Country. To mark 10 years of tranquility, guests are invited to enjoy a week-and-a-half of daily savings leading up to an exclusive evening celebration. (Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort & Spa, 2026)

10 Days of Anniversary Savings

From September 21 through September 29, 2026, take advantage of a 10% daily discount on featured spa services, retail, and wellness sessions:

  • Sept 21: Osmosis Facials
  • Sept 22: Custom Massages
  • Sept 23: Hormones, Stress, & Nutrition Lecture & Personal Assessments
  • Sept 24: Manicures / Pedicures
  • Sept 25: Babor Facials & CBD Treatments
  • Sept 26: Hair Services
  • Sept 27: Fitness Sessions (10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 12:00 PM)
  • Sept 28: Skin Authority Facials
  • Sept 29: Body Treatments

GLOW: Radiance After Dark Event

  • Date: September 30, 2026
  • Time: 7:00 PM
  • Age Requirement: 21+

Close out the celebration with the latest iteration of GLOW: Radiance After Dark. The evening features a curated lineup of local vendors, including Kay Spears Functional Nutrition, ROCK YOUR MAGIC, Six Twists Sparkling, Wild Pony Hat Bar, Lifestyling permanent jewelry, and more.

Tickets: Reserve your spot here.

Award-Winning Wellness in the Hill Country

Loma de Vida Spa & Wellness continues to earn national recognition, recently named one of The Zoe Report’s “Top 10 Best U.S. Hotel Spas for 2026” and featured in the San Antonio Current’s Best of San Antonio 2026 as one of the “Best Places to Get Pampered.”

Location & Contact Information

Loma de Vida Spa & Wellness
Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort & Spa
16641 La Cantera Parkway
San Antonio, TX 78256

About Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort & Spa

Perched at the highest elevation point in San Antonio, La Cantera Resort & Spa is a 550-acre oasis overlooking the Texas Hill Country. The resort features:

  • Relaxation & Amenities: Five year-round heated pools—including Topaz, the adults-only infinity pool—and a 25,000-square-foot spa featuring outdoor Sky Loft treatment suites.
  • Golf & Events: A championship golf course designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, alongside The Calera, a scenic event space for weddings and gatherings.
  • Dining: Nine culinary concepts, including the Michelin Guide-recommended Signature restaurant.
  • Accolades: Named the #1 Resort in Texas and the Southwest by the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards and a Top Ten Texas Resort in Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards.

Slasher Cult Classic ‘Sorority Row’ Coming to 4K UHD: Special Features & Technical Specs

Lionsgate Limited announces ‘Sorority Row’ 4K steelbook release. Photo: Lionsgate

Sorority Row Coming to 4K Ultra HD

Digital Release Alert

U.S. Release Date: September 15, 2026
Formats: 4K Steelbook, Blu-ray, and Digital

Get ready to revisit Theta Pi in glorious high definition! The 2009 slasher favorite Sorority Row is making its long-awaited 4K Ultra HD debut on September 15, 2026. Available in a premium 4K Steelbook, standard Blu-ray, and Digital formats via Lionsgate Limited. Pre-order here. (EG PR, 2026)

The Synopsis

Who’s killing the sisters of Theta Pi?

In Sorority Row, making its 4K debut, the sisters of Rosman University’s Theta Pi, Cassidy (Briana Evigan), Chugs (Margo Harshman), Jessica (Leah Pipes), Ellie (Rumer Willis), and Claire (Jamie Chung), are committed to staying mum regarding the prank that ended in tragedy for Megan (Audrina Patridge), one of their own.

But when graduation day arrives, so does terror, as a killer hunts Theta Pi’s sisters one by one.

Film Information

  • Genre: Horror, mystery
  • Rating: R for strong bloody violence, language, some sexuality/nudity, and partying
  • Running Time: 101 minutes
  • Directed by: Steward Hendler
  • Screenplay by: Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger
  • Based on: The original screenplay Seven Sisters by Mark Rosman

Cast

Briana Evigan, Leah Pipes, Rumer Willis, Jamie Chung, Audrina Patridge, Julian Morris, Margo Harshman, Matt Lanter, and Carrie Fisher

Program Information

  • Year of Production: 2009
  • Title Copyright: Sorority Row © 2009, Artwork & Supplementary Materials © 2026 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
  • Closed-Captioned: No
  • Feature Run Time: 101 minutes
  • Subtitles: Spanish; English SDH
  • Format: 16:9 (2.40:1) presentation
  • Audio: English Dolby Atmos; Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

Lionsgate Limited Extras

  • Reconsidering Sorority Row — Final TRT: 10:48
  • The Making of a Queen B*h with Leah Pipes** — Final TRT: 12:23
  • Loyal Friends and Untimely Ends: Writing Sorority Row — Approx. TRT: 11***
  • Grit and Glamour: The Visual Design of Sorority Row — Approx. TRT: 16:30

Legacy Special Features

  • Audio commentary with the director and cast — Feature length
  • Sorority Secrets: Stories from the Set — TRT: 10:28
  • Killer 101 — TRT: 14:00
  • Kill Switch — TRT: 10:25
  • Deleted Scenes — TRT: 6***
  • Outtakes — TRT: 5:27
  • Sorority Pledge — TRT: 1:01
  • EPK B-Roll — TRT: 8:53
  • Confessional — TRT: 4***
  • Shower Rehearsal — TRT: 2:53
  • TV Spot — TRT: 0:31
  • Theatrical Trailer — TRT: 2:30
  • International Trailer — TRT: 1:40

About Lionsgate Limited

Created for movie lovers by movie lovers, Lionsgate Limited celebrates the artistry of film with premium, limited-edition releases curated from Lionsgate’s expansive entertainment library.

Its mission is to enrich your connection to your favorite films through careful movie restoration, specially designed collectible packaging, and bonus content that honors the vision of the filmmakers.

Photo: Lionsgate

‘A Journey of Insights’ Review: Key Leadership Lessons from Former USC Dean James G. Ellis

‘A Journey of Insights’ is the new book by James G. Ellis. Photo: Simon & Schuster

Book Review: A Journey of Insights: Lessons in Leadership and Legacy

By James G. Ellis

Synopsis

A Journey of Insights draws upon the lessons James G. Ellis learned while a teacher and dean of USC’s Marshall School of Business, as well as those he absorbed during his preceding years at Harvard Business School and in executive leadership. In plotting a roadmap for a successful business life, his stories show illustratively how business schools and their students can prosper. At the core of his message is a central theme: listening to the voices around you throughout life is the key to success. In essence, ears can speak louder than voices. (Simon & Schuster, 2026)

Contents

  • Chapter 1: A Dean’s Story: The Cold Car Hood
  • Chapter 2: Finding Your Wave
  • Chapter 3: The Bill Gates Conundrum: Is Business Education Worth It?
  • Chapter 4: Relationships and Mentors: The Power of Connection
  • Chapter 5: Plotting Your Own Map: Know Thyself
  • Chapter 6: Preparation and Perseverance
  • Chapter 7: Don’t Sell Sales Short
  • Chapter 8: Risk Management and Disappointment
  • Chapter 9: The Fifth Decade: Giving Back

Review

What if one of the most important skills for success isn’t knowing what to say, but knowing when to listen? That simple idea is at the heart of this collection of lessons drawn from a lifetime in business, education, and leadership. Ellis doesn’t offer a rigid formula for success; instead, he shares stories and observations that encourage readers to think differently about their careers and lives.

He weaves in personal stories from people he met along the way and the takeaways from those encounters. For example, Matthew Guglielmo, who started out as a furniture buyer with a Philadelphia department store chain, taught him how to prepare for negotiations by knowing what you want and how to ask for it. Simply put, if you don’t ask for something, you won’t get it.

Of all the notable people he met throughout his life, the one who stands out most is Senator John F. Kennedy, whom Ellis accidentally bumped into at the San Francisco airport in 1959 when he was just 12 years old. That day, he learned the importance of taking responsibility for your actions and the power of a sincere apology. It became a guiding principle for his life: we can learn life lessons, big and small, from everyone around us.

Key topics explored in the book:

  • Leadership & Mentorship
  • Relationships & Connection
  • Preparation & Perseverance
  • Risk-taking & Overcoming Disappointment
  • The Art of Sales
  • The Importance of Giving Back

Each chapter concludes with reflection questions, allowing readers to apply these concepts directly to their own personal and professional journeys.

Ellis repeatedly returns to the value of learning from those around us. Sometimes the best advice isn’t delivered in a formal lecture or board meeting, it comes from simply paying attention. The book serves as a great reminder that success is rarely achieved alone: listening, staying curious, recognizing opportunities, and learning from both successes and failures shape a much richer journey.

Key Chapter Highlights

  • Chapter 5: Focuses on the integrity of your word. Ellis learned that protecting your reputation matters throughout your entire life. He also stresses putting yourself in the shoes of those who work around you, recommending that early-career professionals learn a business from the ground up to truly understand every role.
  • Chapter 8: Highlights the necessity of risk-taking and personal accountability. Ellis urges readers to own their actions while giving full credit to others for their accomplishments.

“Sometimes you must take risks to take care of those around you. In doing so, stay humble, as you are one of many.”

Ellis also challenges readers to consider whether traditional business education truly prepares people for the realities of leadership and life. Avoiding generic corporate jargon, he uses a smooth blend of practical business wisdom and personal reflection to deliver his message.

Overall, A Journey of Insights is a thoughtful, engaging reflection on what it takes to build a successful career and a meaningful life. Recommended for students, entrepreneurs, business professionals, and anyone seeking practical wisdom. It’s never too late to learn something new—and if you’re willing to listen, this book has plenty to say.

“Preparation is what gets you ready to do a great job. Perseverance is what you need to see a job through to completion… Each time you leave an achievable goal unachieved, it becomes easier to give up the next time you’re faced with a challenge.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Get your copy of A Journey of Insights today!

About the Author

James G. Ellis served as dean of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California from April 2007 until June 2019, overseeing the education and well-being of over 5,700 graduate and undergraduate students. He held a full-time tenured appointment as Professor of Marketing starting in 1997, retiring in July 2021.

Holding an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BBA from the University of New Mexico, Ellis held leadership roles across the corporate world, including President/CEO of Porsche Design and CEO of Port O’Call Pasadena, along with ownership in six other companies. He began his career with Broadway Department Stores in Los Angeles.

** Thank you to Fauzia Burke and FSB Associates for the gifted ARC for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

From Prairie DIY to Montréal Grit: The Uncompromising Rise of Truck Violence

Truck Violence’s new album The weathervane is my body is out now. Photo: Matthew Van Dystadt-Aguiar, used with permission.

Truck Violence Returns with Unforgiving DIY Triumph: The weathervane is my body

Canada’s Truck Violence howls through the harsh edges of hardcore and folk, delivering a final sound that is both deeply comforting and fiercely confrontational. Their second full-length record, The weathervane is my body, is an attempt to answer—an attempt at conciliation through refusal. (another side, 2026)

It is available now, featuring the standout single and album closer, “Kindly, wash yourself.”

From Prairie Towns to City Streets

After relocating from the Alberta prairies to Montréal at just seventeen years old, guitarist and banjoist Paul Lecours and singer-poet Karsyn Henderson navigated the massive shift from rural isolation to urban intensity.

  • Small-town roots: The pair grew up in a town of just 600 people, graduating in a class of nine.
  • Early DIY spirit: By age fifteen, they were running a local studio and radio station with no industry support, no infrastructure, and no template—only the work itself and the conviction that it was worth doing.
  • Expanding the sound: Drawing influence from punk, shoegaze, and sludge, their distinctive identity emerged from years of experimentation. Upon arriving in Montréal, Chris Clegg (bass) and Thomas Hart (percussion) joined to build Truck Violence from the ground up.

Uncompromising, In-House Execution

The weathervane is my body is the culmination of that entire journey. The group composition, recording, mixing, and visual media were all produced completely in-house without outside intervention. Here, DIY is not an aesthetic choice or a marketing angle—it is the only honest option available.

The album serves as an expansion of the angry statement of purpose launched in their debut album, Violence, which Pitchfork hailed as “never predictable or formulaic.” Rooted in noise rock and post-hardcore traditions, the new record stands immediate, self-determined, and uncompromising.

The Vision Behind the Cover Art

Shot on film by the band on Avenue du Parc in Montréal, the album cover captures the record’s entire thesis in a single frame:

A figure perches atop a small Québécois-style house, hand-built from reclaimed materials—spine curved, legs pulled in, bare-backed against a skyline that dwarfs everything beneath it. A rural thing dropped into the grit of the city: small, out of place, and refusing to disappear. Naked and defenseless, open to every stimulus the world delivers.

The weathervane is my body, track list:

  1. My dog would fuck the air
  2. Jaundiced and reaching for a mother
  3. Compelled by Christy
  4. House caught fire
  5. New Jesus
  6. Your name, It’s walking
  7. Stomach as a tower and the globules descending
  8. Gerard, be quiet
  9. Kindly, wash yourself

Catch Truck Violence Live

Truck Violence will be touring across North America this fall and winter.

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Why Modern Economic Policy Failed: James K. Galbraith’s ‘The Power to Destroy’

‘In The Power to Destroy,’ James K. Galbraith explains how yesterday’s economic tools don’t work today. Photo: University of Chicago Press

📚 Book Spotlight: The Power to Destroy: How Bad Economics Drove America’s Decline

Author: James K. Galbraith

Release Date: September 23, 2026 (Available for pre-order)

The Dissonance of Modern Economics

Acclaimed economist James K. Galbraith sounds an urgent alarm on how conventional economic ideas and policies have failed to adapt to the most daunting challenges of our geopolitical moment. (University of Chicago Press, 2026)

Amid a mounting sense of American decline, everyday citizens live with a strange contradiction: traditional economists keep announcing that everything is fundamentally fine. They point to steady growth, low unemployment, relatively stable prices, and high stock markets, asking: what’s there to worry about?

Synopsis

The Power to Destroy shows that this dissonance reflects a failure of the discipline to evolve. Galbraith’s incisive history of 21st-century economic policy centers on a fundamental flaw: today’s experts are still deploying tools from yesterday’s wars.

Relying on obsolete ideas, outdated measures, and crude indicators like standard output and price indexes—many honed a century ago for a vastly different social landscape—offers little hope in the face of today’s existential threats.

Galbraith argues that these conventional policies are accelerating the decline of the US economy. Key policy shortcomings include:

  • Mismanaged Inflation: Weak responses to the post-pandemic inflation of 2021–2022.
  • Geopolitical Miscalculations: Flawed strategies regarding the sanctions war against Russia and the economic rise of China.
  • Stagnant Revival: Half-hearted and ineffective attempts at domestic industrial policy.
  • Unaddressed Crises: Inadequate preparation for climate change and the impending demographic crisis.

All of these failures root back to a flawed body of economic thought sustained for ideological rather than practical reasons. As Galbraith makes plain, while market systems have their virtues, government policies are what make functioning markets possible in the first place. Sticking with outdated theories brings the power to destroy, making new, realistic ideas an urgent necessity for survival in an emerging multipolar world.

About the Author

James K. Galbraith holds the Lloyd M. Bentsen, Jr. Chair in Government/Business Relations at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin.

His previous books include:

  • Entropy Economics: The Living Basis of Value and Production (with Jing Chen)
  • Inequality: What Everyone Needs to Know
  • Welcome to the Poisoned Chalice: The Destruction of Greece and the Future of Europe
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Indie Horror Spotlight: ‘Hellbilly Hollow’ Brings Practical Gore and Heavy Metal to Theaters

The blood-soaked Southern throwback horror film will be released in select U.S. theaters on September 25, 2026. Photo: Bald Man Films/Convoke Media, used with permission.

THE BACKWOODS GET BLOODY: “HELLBILLY HOLLOW” TRAILER DROPS AHEAD OF SEPTEMBER THEATER RELEASE

One of the South’s most iconic haunted attractions is about to become the setting for an all-new generation’s nightmares.

Bald Man Films and Todd Slater’s Convoke Media have officially unleashed the first trailer for “Hellbilly Hollow,” a blood-soaked Southern throwback horror reminiscent of cult classics Terrifier and Friday the 13th. Filmed on location at the real-life Hellbilly Hollow haunted attraction in Vincent, Alabama, the film slashes into select U.S. theaters via Atlas Distribution Company on Friday, September 25. (Cinematic Red PR, 2026)

Check out the trailer breakdown, storyline, and behind-the-scenes details below.

The Synopsis: Real Scares in the Alabama Backwoods

In Hellbilly Hollow, a team of paranormal YouTubers ventures deep into the Alabama backwoods to film at a haunted attraction the night before Halloween. They soon encounter a sinister presence far more frightening, and deadlier, than specters and staged scares:

  • Tickles: A disfigured, childlike clown.
  • Bull: His manipulative caretaker brother.

One by one, the investigators and local thrill-seekers fall victim to the siblings’ sadistic games inside the attraction’s real-life haunted barn, hayride, and scare zones.

From Commercial Shoot to Southern Slasher

The idea for the film took root on-site at the attraction, where director Kevin Wayne was initially filming a commercial. After envisioning a sinister figure hunting victims through the haunt’s eerie backwoods setting, the concept evolved into a full-length feature.

“I’ve wanted to make a horror film for a long time – but not just any horror film. With ‘Hellbilly Hollow,’ I saw a chance to tell a true Southern horror story – one that’s sinister and twisted, atmospheric and character-driven, not just reliant on jump scares and gore.” — Kevin Wayne (Director / “Tickles”)

“We came up with a slate of outrageous, never-before-seen kills. From day one, we knew this would be the start of something bigger – a series of films built around a place, two complex, deranged siblings, and the culture they inhabit.” — Kurt Deimer (Producer / “Bull”)

Practical FX, Heavy Metal, and Carnage

Designed to deliver authentic throwback thrills, Hellbilly Hollow turns carnival mechanics into lethal traps. Engineered by executive producer and production designer Mike Denard, the set features customized, practical set pieces including:

  • Wack-a-Troll
  • High Striker
  • Acid Darts
  • Car Dunk Sequence

The Sound of Horror:

Supercharging the scares, the film features an original score composed by Roy Mayorga (Ministry), sound design by Tom Boykin (John Wick: Chapter 4, The Last of Us), and eight original songs performed by rock artist and co-star Kurt Deimer.

Cast and Crew Highlights

  • Cast: Kurt Deimer, Kevin Wayne, Danny Vinson, Sandra Ellis Lafferty, Megan Alexandrea Weaver, Hallie Shepherd, Trey Miller, and Keller Fornes.
  • Director: Kevin Wayne
  • Writer: Bernadette Chapman
  • Producers: Kurt Deimer, Todd Slater
  • Director of Photography: David Brower
  • Executive Producers: Michael T. Clarke, Mike Denard, Andy Gould, David Miller, Tim Miller, James Srygley, Kevin Wayne, and Brandon Evans.

ABOUT BALD MAN FILMS

Founded by Cincinnati-born rocker, actor, and producer Kurt Deimer, Bald Man Films specializes in producing genre content. The company is the culmination of Deimer’s unconventional journey from the school of hard knocks to entrepreneur, rock musician, actor, and film producer.

ABOUT CONVOKE MEDIA

Convoke Media is a strategic investment and content company operating at the intersection of film, television, digital media, and institutional capital. Recent films include, The Optimist, Flyover, Scare BnB, Paul & Greg & Amelia, & Don’t Log Off. Founded by veteran media executive Todd Slater, the company focuses on the development, financing, and scaling of premium content with global commercial potential.

Hellbilly Hollow still. Photo: Bald Man Films/Convoke Media